Fire razes 300 shops in Oyo market
A fire on Monday morning destroyed approximately 300 shops at Oranya Market in the Ibadan North-East Local Government Area of Oyo State. The blaze impacted various traders, including gold sellers, furniture dealers, and second-hand clothing vendors.
Morof Akinwande, the Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Fire Reforms and the State Chairman of Fire Services, confirmed the incident, noting that the exact number of shops affected has not yet been determined. Akinwande indicated that the fire began in the middle of the market, preceded by an explosion.
“Whether it’s a gas explosion or another cause remains unclear. However, a gas explosion can cause extensive spreading of the fire,” he said. “As of now, the situation has been under control since 1 a.m.”
This incident follows another fire that occurred on August 22, 2026, which damaged nine locked-up shops at the Nigerian Railway shopping complex near Aleshinloye Market in the Ibadan South-West Local Government Area. That fire reportedly started around 5 a.m. and caused significant damage before firefighters were able to respond.
