Explosion triggers fire, destroys shops in Oyo market

Shops numbering hundreds were destroyed in an early Monday morning blaze at the popular Oranyan Market in Ibadan North-East Local Government Area of Oyo State.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the fire, which reportedly started around midnight, affected several sections of the market, with traders dealing in gold, furniture, second-hand clothes and other goods among those affected.

An eyewitness, simply identified as Iya Alia, said the fire started around midnight, although she could not give the exact time.

She said nearly 300 shops may have been affected by the inferno.

“The fire started around midnight. I cannot be specific about that time. Those affected were gold sellers, furniture sellers, second-hand clothes sellers and many others. The shops affected were almost 300,” she said.

Another eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the incident as devastating, saying the scale of destruction was difficult to comprehend.

“This is devastating. This is huge. I don’t even know how to explain it. Close to 300 shops were destroyed,” the eyewitness said.

The Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Fire Reforms and Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Services, Morof Akinwande, confirmed the incident when contacted by telephone on Monday.

Akinwande, however, cautioned against putting a figure on the number of shops destroyed at this stage, saying an assessment of the damage would only be possible after the fire outbreak investigation.

He disclosed that the fire reportedly started in the middle of the market following an explosion, while noting that it was yet to be established whether the explosion was caused by gas or another source.

According to him, the situation had been brought under control by 1 a.m., preventing the fire from spreading further.

He said, “Yes, it occurred. That number we cannot ascertain, but what is known is that some shops were destroyed and the fire incident started in the middle of the market with an explosion.

“Whether it’s a gas explosion or something else. And when you have a gas explosion, it would spread, but as I am talking to you, the situation has been under control since 1 a.m.

“On the number of shops and inventory, that is too early because that’s a post-fire outbreak investigation. So, I cannot be accurate about the number of shops that were destroyed. But shops were actually gone.”

The latest incident has again raised concerns over recurring fire outbreaks in major markets across the state, with traders facing the risk of losing their livelihoods and investments.

Recall that a similar fire incident occurred at the herbal section of the Oranyan Market in 2024, when more than 200 shops were reportedly completely razed.

Meanwhile, the Acting Governor of Oyo State, Barrister Abdulraheem Adebayo Lawal, has expressed heartfelt sympathy to traders and residents affected by the incident.

This was contained in a statement released by the Special Adviser (Media) to the Governor of Oyo State, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, made available to newsmen in Ibadan on Monday.

The Acting Governor described the incident as a tragic loss that has disrupted the livelihoods of hard-working traders and caused significant hardship to families. He assured the residents that the state government would stand firmly with the victims during this difficult time.

He noted that emergency response teams had been deployed to assess the extent of the damage, while immediate relief measures were being put in place to support those affected.

The Acting Governor further stated that the government is committed to restoring the market and implementing preventive measures to avert future occurrences.

He commended the swift intervention of the Oyo State Fire Service and other security agencies, while urging traders and residents to remain calm and hopeful.

The Acting Governor said, “I received with deep sadness the news of the fire outbreak that occurred at Oranyan Market, Ibadan. This unfortunate incident has caused untold hardship to our hardworking traders who lost their goods and means of livelihood in the inferno.

“On behalf of the government and people of Oyo State, I extend heartfelt sympathy to all affected traders, their families, and the entire Oranyan Market community. We share in your pain and stand with you in this difficult time.

“The State Government is already working closely with relevant emergency agencies to assess the extent of the damage and provide immediate relief to victims. Beyond emergency support, we are committed to putting in place measures that will help restore the market and prevent future occurrences.

“We commend the swift response of the fire service and security agencies, and we urge our traders to remain calm and hopeful.”

The latest incident also comes barely two days after another fire outbreak destroyed nine locked-up shops at the Nigerian Railway Shopping Complex along the popular Aleshinloye Market in Ibadan South-West Local Government Area of Oyo State.