Fire Destroys Properties Worth Millions in Ibadan Residential Building
A fierce fire outbreak on Sunday morning left a trail of destruction at a residential building located on Shoyombo Street, off Liberty Road in the Oke-Ado area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The inferno consumed household belongings, shop inventories, and personal valuables, with losses estimated in the millions of naira.
According to witnesses and emergency officials, the blaze began in the upper sitting room of the two-storey building and quickly spread to other parts of the structure. The incident reportedly occurred during a power surge following the restoration of electricity to the area—an electrical spark is believed to have triggered the fire.
The affected building housed 10 residential rooms upstairs and three shops on the ground floor, including a hair salon, a tailoring outlet, and a provision store.
All were gutted by the flames before the fire could be contained.
The Oyo State Fire Service received a distress call around 10:34 a.m. and immediately dispatched a response team to the scene. Firefighters, led by Assistant Chief Fire Superintendent (ACFS) Adedeji, battled the flames alongside volunteers and marshals from a nearby shopping mall. Their swift action helped prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent buildings.
“No lives were lost, but the damage is enormous,” ACFS Adedeji confirmed. “We suspect that the fire was caused by a high-voltage electrical surge. Most of the property was already engulfed in flames before we arrived, but we were able to stop the fire from reaching other homes nearby.”
Residents and shop owners, many of whom watched helplessly as their possessions were destroyed, are now counting their losses. Some were seen salvaging charred remains of their belongings, while others lamented the complete destruction of their means of livelihood.
This latest incident adds to a worrying trend of fire outbreaks in Ibadan, many of which are caused by electrical faults, power surges, or careless handling of flammable materials.
In recent months, similar incidents have struck markets and residential areas across the city, prompting calls for increased fire safety awareness and improved infrastructure.
In response, the Oyo State Fire Service has reiterated its warning to residents and business owners to conduct regular electrical inspections, avoid overloading sockets, and unplug appliances during power outages.
While the community mourns the losses, emergency officials continue their assessment and have urged affected residents to report damages and seek support through official state channels.
Authorities have yet to announce any compensation or relief measures, but investigations into the precise cause of the fire are ongoing.
