Electrical surge, late calls blamed for market infernos in Ibadan

By Adejayan Gbenga –

Two separate fire incidents on Wednesday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, have been blamed on an electrical surge and delayed emergency reporting, according to the State Fire Services Agency.

The first incident occurred at Ogundipe Market, where no fewer than 14 shops were razed in the early hours of the day. The Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Fire Reform and Chairman of the State Fire Services Agency, Moroof Akinwande, confirmed the fire, noting that emergency responders received a distress call around 3:50 a.m.

He explained that firemen, led by CFS Olayiwola T.K., arrived promptly but found that 14 of the 42 shops had already been engulfed in flames. Although the team successfully prevented the fire from spreading to adjoining shops, Akinwande noted that a delay in reporting the fire may have worsened the damage.

“No lives were lost, and the operation was successfully completed. However, earlier reporting could have helped minimize property loss,” he said. He added that properties worth billions of naira were saved by the firefighters’ swift intervention. An investigation into the market fire is underway.

In a separate fire incident the same day, a four-bedroom flat at No. 17, Ifesowapo Maternity, Zone 2, Ajoda, Egbeda area of Ibadan, was also gutted by fire.

According to Akinwande, the agency received a distress call at 12:42 a.m., and a team led by ACFS Adisa Wasiu was immediately dispatched. Although they managed to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby houses, the residential building and its contents — valued at millions of naira — were destroyed.

Preliminary findings linked the residential fire to an electrical surge caused by an unattended plugged-in appliance.

“These incidents highlight the dangers of electrical negligence and late reporting,” Akinwande said, urging residents to always unplug electrical appliances when not in use and to place fire extinguishers within reach. He also called on the public to report fire outbreaks promptly using the agency’s emergency numbers: 08067439223, 08054353501, or 615.