A fire that broke out in the early hours of Monday has destroyed several shops at the popular Oranya Market in Ibadan North-East Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The number of affected shops could not be immediately ascertained, although traders estimated that close to 300 shops were destroyed in the inferno.
The affected businesses included gold shops, furniture stores, second-hand clothing outlets and other retail shops.
A trader identified as Iya Alia said the fire started around midnight, adding that the scale of the destruction was significant.
“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 close to 300 shops might have been destroyed.
“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 on Monday.
Akinwande, however, said it was too early to determine the exact number of shops destroyed.
“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,” he said.
He said the cause of the explosion had yet to be established, adding that it could have resulted from a gas explosion or another source.
“Whether it’s a gas explosion or other things. 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 am,” he added.
Akinwande said an assessment of the affected shops and goods would be conducted as part of the post-fire investigation.
“On the number of shops and inventory, that is too early because that’s post-fire outbreak investigation. So, I cannot be precise about the number of shops destroyed. But shops were actually gone,” he said.
READ ALSO: Explain What Going Back Means — Sambo Challenges Atiku Over Return to Fuel Subsidy
The incident comes about two years after a similar fire destroyed more than 200 shops in the herbal section of the market.
Meanwhile, nine locked-up shops at the Nigerian Railway shopping complex near Aleshinloye Market in Ibadan South-West Local Government Area were also destroyed by fire on Saturday, August 22, 2026.
Goods, household items and other properties worth millions of naira were reportedly destroyed in the incident.
One of the affected traders, Busari Olayemi, said the fire destroyed goods and equipment worth about N21 million, including window blinds, curtain fabrics and industrial sewing machines.
The trader said customers’ fabrics and other business equipment were also destroyed in the fire.
