Another fire outbreak has ravaged Dugbe Market in Ibadan North West Local Government Area, destroying three shops and properties worth millions of naira in the early hours of Sunday.
The incident, which occurred at approximately 12:25 AM, has left traders and nearby residents in a state of panic. Many of the affected shop owners were alerted by telephone calls, rushing to the scene only to witness the aftermath of the blaze.
A trader lamented, “We left our shops late on Saturday, expecting to return on Monday, but we were shocked by distress calls about the fire.
While some shops were spared, others have lost their fortunes to this inferno. Fire outbreaks are becoming too frequent in the state, leaving us in fear.”
Confirming the incident, a senior officer of the Oyo State Fire Service, Mr. I.A. Adeleke, stated, “The fire was reported to us at 12:25 AM through a GSM call by Mrs. Babarinu. Our personnel were quickly deployed to the scene and arrived in time due to minimal traffic.
Upon arrival, we discovered that three out of 13 shops had already been engulfed in flames. We managed to contain the fire, preventing it from spreading further.”
Adeleke revealed that the fire was completely extinguished, and 13 shops and nearby properties were saved. The cause of the fire was traced to unattended refuse burning by the occupants of the premises.
“Indiscriminate burning of refuse, bushes, and undergrowth must be avoided, especially during Harmattan,” he added.
Hon. Yusuf Adebisi and a police team led by DSP Sulaiman from the Iyaganku Police Division were present at the scene to assess the damage.
This fire incident adds to a growing list of recent blazes in the state, including a similar occurrence at Christ Apostolic Church, Olorunda Aba, during a Christmas Carol service on Friday.
That incident also caused significant losses, including educational certificates and properties worth millions of naira.
