A devastating fire broke out at the popular Oja Agbe market in Moniya, Akinyele Local Government Area of Ibadan, Oyo State, on Monday, destroying goods and property worth millions of Naira.
The fire, which began around midnight, spread rapidly, engulfing approximately 17 shops, containers, and nearby buildings.
Authorities traced the cause of the blaze to unattended electrical appliances that were plugged in.
Witnesses reported significant damage, with valuable items stored in the affected shops destroyed in the fire.
The Babaloja of Moniya Garage, Mr. Kolawole Balogun, recounted that he was alerted to the incident at around 12:30 am, prompting him to rush to the scene to assess the situation firsthand.
Balogun said: “I moved to the scene of the incident immediately I received phone call. I can confirm to you that goods and property worth millions have been lost to the incident.
In his own account, the Chairman of the Garage, Mr Saliu Bello said, “apart from goods, cash worth millions of naira were also destroyed. You know some market men and women, sometimes, kept their money in the shops while going home.”
Some of the victims, Yetunde Musa, Ajetunmobi Idowu, Olaide Badmus, Balogun Sulaimon, and Ajetunmobi Kolawole in their various remarka appealed to the government to come to their aid.
Confirming the development, the General Manager, Oyo State Fire Services, Akinyemi Akinyinka said the fire incident was reported to the agency at exactly 00:27 hrs.
He said, “The fire incident was reported to the agency at exactly 00:27 hrs. and Mr. Adelola that their shops are on fire at Moniya Garage, Oja Agbe, Ibadan.
Immediately, the personnel of this Agency led by ACFS Oyedeji was deployed to the scene of the incident. On getting to the address above, it was discovered to be rows of shops and container shops we met were alight.
“We quickly swift in to action and we were able to curtail the fire from where we met it and restricted it from spreading to all nearby shops and other properties.
“Properties worth millions of naira was destroyed and billions of properties were saved by the Agency personnel. No live was loss.
“However, I want to advise our people in Oyo State that they should handle fire with care in order to avoid fire incidents.
“The remote cause of the fire incident was traced to plugging of electrical appliances unattended to.”
