Six lock-up shops were destroyed in a fire outbreak that occurred in the early hours of Monday at Oyinkansola Hammed Street in the Monatan area of Ibadan, Oyo State.
The Oyo State Fire Services Agency confirmed that no lives were lost in the incident, which was reported at approximately 2:20 a.m.
According to the agency, the alarm was raised by a resident, Mr Akande, who noticed flames engulfing some of the shops and immediately contacted emergency responders. Firefighters were promptly dispatched to the location under the leadership of an Assistant Chief Fire Superintendent.
Upon arrival, emergency personnel discovered that six out of the 34 lock-up shops within the commercial area had already been affected by the blaze. Firefighters immediately commenced containment operations and successfully prevented the fire from spreading to the remaining shops and nearby structures.
Officials attributed the likely cause of the incident to an electrical power surge, a recurring factor in many fire outbreaks across urban centres.
The agency disclosed that the firefighting operation lasted for several hours before the situation was brought under control. Fire service personnel eventually returned to their station at about 4:03 a.m.
Reacting to the incident, the Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Services Agency and Special Adviser on Fire Services Reform, Dr Moroof Akinwande, urged residents and business owners to prioritise fire safety measures.
He encouraged shop owners to install and maintain functional fire extinguishers and ensure electrical installations are regularly inspected to reduce the risk of similar incidents.
Akinwande noted that prompt reporting and early intervention were critical in minimising property losses during emergencies. He reiterated the agency’s commitment to strengthening fire prevention awareness across the state.
While no casualty was recorded, affected shop owners are expected to assess the extent of their losses as investigations into the incident continue.
