In the city of Ibadan, located in Oyo State, a fire incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, resulting in the destruction of three shops. Thankfully, the prompt response of the state fire service prevented the fire from spreading further and saved 13 other shops from being damaged.
Reports indicate that the fire started around midnight behind a First City Monument Bank branch in Dugbe. The cause of the fire was attributed to unattended burning refuse on the premises.
Although there were no casualties reported, the blaze caused significant financial loss with property and goods valued at millions of naira destroyed. This incident is one of several unfortunate fires that have affected Ibadan in December 2024, including a recent fire at Moniya Market which destroyed 17 shops.
Another fire incident occurred at a Christ Apostolic Church parish in Wisdom Estate, adding to the string of unfortunate events in the area.
The General Manager of the Oyo State Fire Services, Yemi Akinyinka, confirmed the incident and highlighted the importance of fire prevention measures, especially during the harmattan season. Akinyinka cautioned against indiscriminate burning of refuse and vegetation, stressing the need for community members to be vigilant and proactive in fire prevention efforts.