Properties valued at several millions of naira were destroyed following separate fire outbreaks at a market and a residential building in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The first incident occurred at Labaowo Market around Ogunpa axis over the weekend, where a fire razed parts of a shopping complex. Sources disclosed that five shops in the complex were affected by the inferno, with goods and other valuables destroyed.
No life was lost in the incident.
Confirming the development, Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Service, Hon. Maroof Akinwande, said firefighters responded promptly with support from other fire services.
According to him, security operatives were also deployed to the scene to provide protection for the firefighters during the operation.
Akinwande explained, “Upon arrival, five (5) out of multiple lock-up shops (purposely used to store expensive materials like carbides) at the ground floor of a storey building used as warehouse were covered by flames and thick smoke.
“The fire incident was suspected to be caused by spontaneous reaction of some of the stored chemicals which absorbed heat, ignited nearby combustibles and set the building on fire.
“The fire was jointly extinguished with Federal Fire Service and SWEETCO Fire Service in Ibadan.”
In a related incident, fire also destroyed properties at the NCRI Moore Plantation College in Ibadan on Monday.
It was gathered that four rooms in a residential building were affected, with properties worth millions of naira damaged in the blaze.
Akinwande, who also confirmed the incident in a statement, said no casualty was recorded.
“Upon arrival, it was four (4) out of a row of six (6) self-contained private residential buildings engulfed by fire.
“No casualty was recorded. Properties worth millions of naira were saved by the fire service,” he stated.
