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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Economy & Trade

Explosion triggers fire, destroys shops in Oyo market

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Hundreds of shops were destroyed in a fire at Oranyan Market in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, early Monday morning.
  • The blaze, which started around midnight, affected traders dealing in various goods, with eyewitnesses estimating nearly 300 shops were lost.
  • Authorities are investigating the cause, which reportedly involved an explosion, and are assessing the full extent of the damage.

A massive fire ravaged Oranyan Market in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, on Monday, destroying hundreds of shops and causing significant losses for traders.

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.

— Iya AliaAn eyewitness describing the start and scale of the fire.

The inferno, which began around midnight, spread rapidly through sections of the popular market, impacting businesses that sold gold, furniture, second-hand clothes, and other goods. Eyewitnesses described the scene as devastating, with one person estimating that close to 300 shops were consumed by the flames.

This is devastating. This is huge. I don’t even know how to explain it. Close to 300 shops were destroyed.

— Unnamed eyewitnessDescribing the immense destruction caused by the fire.

Oyo State officials confirmed the incident, with the Special Adviser on Fire Reforms, Morof Akinwande, stating that the fire started in the market's center following an explosion. The exact cause of the explosion, whether gas or another source, remains under investigation. Firefighters brought the blaze under control by 1 a.m., preventing further spread.

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.

— Morof AkinwandeOyo State Special Adviser on Fire Reforms confirming the incident and its reported cause.

Authorities cautioned against immediate figures for the number of destroyed shops, emphasizing that a thorough assessment would follow the investigation. This incident echoes a similar fire at the market in 2024, raising concerns about recurring fire outbreaks and the risks faced by traders in the state.

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.

— Morof AkinwandeExplaining the uncertainty about the explosion's source and confirming the fire was controlled.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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