By Suleiman Shehu
Ibadan, Dec. 30, 2025
A devastating fire on Monday afternoon gutted eight commercial shops and destroyed property estimated to be worth millions of Naira in the Sango area of Ibadan. The incident occurred beside the Sango Police Division Headquarters, sending plumes of smoke into the sky and causing significant economic disruption for local traders.
The Oyo State Fire Services Agency confirmed the details in a statement issued by its Chairman, Mr. Moroof Akinwande, on Tuesday.
Timeline and Emergency Response
The agency received a distress call at precisely 12:43 p.m. on Monday from an individual identified as Mr. Akanni. This prompt reporting was crucial. Firefighters, led by ACFS Bamidele Samsudeen, were immediately deployed to the scene.
“Upon arrival, we met eight out of 84 shops already engulfed by fire,” Akinwande stated. “Our firemen promptly launched a coordinated attack on the blaze. Their primary and most critical achievement was restricting the fire from spreading to the adjacent 76 shops, preventing a far more catastrophic loss.”
The firefighting operation was a joint effort, conducted in conjunction with officers from the Federal Fire Service Ibadan Command, demonstrating effective inter-agency collaboration during the emergency.
Context and Impact: Beyond the Headlines
While the immediate news is the destruction of eight shops, the deeper story lies in the vulnerability of such commercial clusters. Markets and shop complexes in many Nigerian urban areas are often densely packed with flammable goods—textiles, plastics, electronics, and household materials—with limited firebreaks. This incident at Sango highlights a recurring national challenge: the fire safety of informal and semi-formal retail spaces.
The “properties worth millions” represent not just inventory, but the life savings and livelihoods of individual business owners and their employees. For many, such a loss is uninsured and can mean a total financial reset.
Cause Unknown, Investigation Ongoing
A significant point noted by the Fire Agency is that the cause of the inferno remains undetermined. Chairman Akinwande confirmed that an investigation is ongoing. Potential causes in such settings often include electrical faults from overloaded or substandard wiring, careless disposal of smoking materials, or incidents related to power generators—a common feature in areas with unreliable public electricity supply.
A silver lining in this tragic event is that no loss of life or injuries (casualties) were reported. This is a testament to the swift response and the fact the fire broke out during daylight hours, likely allowing for a quick evacuation.
Lessons and Recommendations for Traders & Communities
This incident serves as a stark reminder for shop owners and market associations:
- Early Reporting is Key: The immediate call from Mr. Akanni was instrumental. Communities should have and share emergency numbers prominently.
- Fire Prevention Audits: Traders should collectively assess their environment for risks like piled-up waste, blocked passages, and illegal electrical connections.
- Basic Fire Extinguishers: While not a solution for a major blaze, having basic firefighting equipment in each shop or block can contain a small fire before it escalates.
- Insurance Consideration: Exploring affordable group or cooperative insurance schemes for market traders can provide a critical financial safety net.
The Oyo State Fire Service’s effective containment prevented a larger disaster, but the event underscores the need for proactive, community-led fire safety measures in commercial hubs across Ibadan and beyond.
Edited by Deji Abdulwahab. Source: NAN News.
