Two separate fire incidents have wreaked havoc in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, leaving properties worth millions of naira in ruins. Punch reports.
The blazes occurred between Wednesday night and Thursday afternoon in different parts of the city — Arije Ishola Layout, Amuda Ojere, Basorun, and Surulere Street, Oke-Ado — leaving residents in shock and distress.
One of the affected structures was a single-storey residential building comprising two rooms and a parlour, while the other was a three-room private residence. Both were completely gutted, though no lives were lost.
In addition, a fire outbreak earlier on Wednesday at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, ravaged three out of four rooms in the staff quarters around 2:00 am.
Eyewitnesses reported that the fire at Basorun started around 10:15 pm on Wednesday, allegedly triggered by a lighted gas cylinder that had been left unattended.
Confirming the incidents, the Chairman of the State Fire Services Agency and Special Adviser on Fire Services Reform to Governor Seyi Makinde, Moroof Akinwande, said emergency calls were promptly responded to.
Akinwande said. “The distressed call was reported at exactly 22:28hrs on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, through telephoning and Murele to house on fire.
“The firemen led by ACFS Adesina Olusoji swiftly turned out to the scene of the incident, and on getting there, it was the upper storey of a single-storey residential building on fire.
“We quickly swung into action and restricted the fire from spreading to the whole building and nearby property. The fire was completely extinguished.
“The fire affected two rooms and a parlour self-contained at the upper floor of the building. No casualty was recorded and the fire incident was as a result of lighted cooking gas cylinder unattended by the owner.”
Providing details of the second incident, he added: “The fire incident was reported at exactly 03:45hrs on Thursday, May 8, 2025, through telephoning and Murele to house on fire at the above address.
“The firemen swiftly turned out to the scene of the incident and on arrival, we met a private residential building of three rooms well alight. We quickly swung into action and curtailed the fire from spreading to nearby buildings. The fire was completely extinguished.
“No casualty was recorded and the fire incident was as a result of surge of electricity and ignited nearby combustible materials and set the building ablaze.”
Residents are urged to take safety precautions, particularly with gas appliances and electrical connections, to prevent further tragedies.
