Nine lock-up shops and goods valued at several millions of naira were destroyed in a fire that broke out at the Railway Shopping Complex on Alesinloye Market road, Ibadan, on Saturday. The Oyo Fire Services Agency confirmed the incident, attributing the cause to an electric surge.
Firefighters Respond to Early Morning Blaze
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the fire affected lock-up shops within the complex. The Chairman of the Oyo Fire Services Agency, Moroof Akinwande, confirmed the incident in a statement made available to journalists on Saturday in Ibadan.
Mr Akinwande said the agency received a distress telephone call about the fire at exactly 5:58 a.m. Firefighters were immediately mobilised to the scene, led by a Chief Fire Superintendent (CFS).
Crews Battle Flames and Call for Reinforcement
“Upon arrival, the crew discovered that nine lock-up shops, out of several shops within the complex, were engulfed in flames, with thick smoke billowing from the affected premises,” Mr Akinwande stated. The crew immediately commenced firefighting operations and requested reinforcement.
“A second fire truck with a 10,000-litre water capacity was subsequently deployed to the scene,” he added. The combined efforts of firefighters and first responders at the scene completely extinguished the fire, preventing it from spreading to adjoining shops and properties.
No Casualties Reported, Cause Identified
Mr Akinwande confirmed that no life was lost in the fire incident. He attributed the cause to an electrical surge that ignited combustible materials in the affected shops. The fire at the Railway Shopping Complex underscores the recurring risk of electrical fires in commercial areas, highlighting the need for regular safety inspections and adherence to electrical safety standards in markets across the state.
