Shops razed as fire guts complex in Oyo’s Saki Garage

By Adejayan Gbenga –

A fire outbreak late Friday night gutted part of a shopping complex at the popular Saki Garage in Ibadan North Local Government Area of Oyo State, destroying goods and property worth millions of naira.

The blaze, which affected four out of the eleven shops within the complex, caused significant losses, although no casualties were recorded.

Confirming the incident, Moroof Adebayo Akinwande, Special Adviser to the Governor on Fire Reform and Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Services Agency, said the fire service was alerted by a passerby.

“In the early hours, a concerned citizen, Mr. Lateef from the Amotekun Bodija Division, raised the alarm after noticing the shops on fire,” Akinwande stated.

He said fire personnel, led by Assistant Chief Fire Superintendent (ACFS) Mrs. Adedeji, responded promptly to the scene. “Upon arrival, four of the eleven shops were already engulfed in flames. Our officers acted swiftly and successfully contained the fire, preventing it from spreading to other shops and nearby structures,” he said.

Preliminary investigations suggest the fire may have started from smouldering embers left unattended after shop closure, which later ignited nearby flammable materials.

While four shops were severely damaged, Akinwande noted that timely intervention by the fire service helped save property worth millions of naira.

He urged business owners and residents to prioritise fire safety, advising them to keep emergency numbers accessible and install fire extinguishers in their homes and commercial premises.

“Fire safety must be taken seriously. Preventive measures can save lives and property,” he said.