A dawn inferno ravaged three shops in the bustling Sango district of Ibadan, Oyo State, on Friday, destroying goods worth several million naira in a blaze suspected to have been triggered by an electrical fault.
The fire broke out around 4:30 a.m. behind the Fart Oil Filling Station and quickly engulfed three out of ten adjoining prefabricated shops, City Round has learned. The cause was traced to a spark from a freezer left plugged in overnight, which reportedly ignited nearby flammable materials.
Residents in the area raised the alarm before firefighters arrived to prevent the flames from spreading further.
Confirming the incident, the General Manager of the Oyo State Fire Service, Mr. Yemi Akinyinka, said the distress call was received at exactly 4:41 a.m. from CSP Adesina, who reported a fire outbreak at the back of the Fart Oil station in Sango.
“A rapid response team, led by ACFS Adedeji (Mrs), was immediately dispatched to the location,” Akinyinka said. “Upon arrival, our team met three shops fully ablaze. Our officers quickly brought the situation under control and stopped the fire from consuming the remaining seven shops.”
He noted that although no lives were lost, the affected shops contained high-value items, including freezers and assorted beverages, all of which were completely destroyed.
“The swift intervention of our personnel ensured the safety of surrounding property. The fire was successfully extinguished without any casualties,” Akinyinka added.
Eyewitnesses commended the fire service for their prompt response, which they said prevented what could have been a far worse disaster in the densely packed commercial area.
Preliminary findings by investigators indicate that the fire originated from an electrical surge caused by a freezer plugged in and left unattended overnight — a reminder, officials said, of the dangers of leaving appliances on for extended periods.
The incident has renewed calls for shop owners and residents in the area to adopt safer electrical practices, especially in market areas vulnerable to such disasters.
