Firefighters Contain Blaze at OPay Ibadan Office
A fire outbreak on Tuesday damaged sections of an OPay office located along Akala Expressway in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, destroying property valued at millions of naira and causing panic among residents, motorists, and nearby business operators.
The fire, which occurred in the afternoon, sent heavy smoke and flames billowing into the air from parts of the fintech company’s building, attracting a large number of onlookers and temporarily disrupting activities in the area.
Eyewitness accounts indicated that the fire started unexpectedly and spread quickly before emergency responders arrived. Some residents initially thought the smoke was from a generator before realising the building was on fire.
“As soon as people noticed the smoke, there was shouting and everyone started running,” an eyewitness said. “Within minutes, the fire intensified and fear gripped the area.”
Workers in neighbouring offices reportedly raised the alarm, prompting firefighters from the Oyo State Fire Services Agency to respond swiftly. The agency later succeeded in bringing the blaze under control, preventing it from spreading to adjoining buildings and nearby shops.
Security personnel were deployed to secure the area and manage traffic, as movement along the busy expressway was temporarily restricted during the firefighting operation.
Although the cause of the fire had not been officially established at the time of reporting, authorities confirmed that no lives were lost and no serious injuries were recorded, as staff were said to have evacuated the premises before the situation worsened.
Despite the absence of casualties, the fire caused extensive damage, destroying office equipment, furniture, documents, and other valuable items.
Some affected workers were seen attempting to salvage belongings after the fire was extinguished.
Officials of the Fire Service said investigations were underway to determine the cause of the incident and assess the scale of losses, adding that recommendations would be made to prevent future occurrences.
OPay is expected to issue an official statement on the incident and outline steps to ensure uninterrupted service delivery to customers in Ibadan and other parts of Oyo State.
Meanwhile, residents and business owners in the area have urged authorities to strengthen fire safety enforcement and ensure regular inspections of commercial buildings, particularly those located along major highways.
