A late-night fire has destroyed property worth millions of naira at many provision shops in Oyo town, Oyo State.
The incident happened on Monday, June 23, near a petrol station in the Farade area, causing panic among residents who feared the flames might spread to nearby buildings and fuel the station.
According to reports, the fire broke out around 10:45 p.m. and quickly engulfed the shop, damaging several items including a refrigerator and other household goods. Eyewitnesses said thick smoke and flames were visible from a distance, attracting concerned residents to the scene.
The Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Service, Maroof Akinwande, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Monday. He noted that the fire was promptly reported to the agency, and emergency response teams were immediately dispatched to the location.
Our officers, led by Assistant Chief Fire Superintendent Tijani Bamidele, arrived at the scene swiftly and acted quickly to stop the fire from spreading further,” Akinwande said. Although the refrigerator and some provisions were destroyed, a significant amount of goods valued at millions of naira were saved due to the quick intervention of our team.
He further explained that preliminary investigations revealed the fire was caused by a refrigerator that had been left plugged in and unattended overnight, which overheated and sparked the blaze.
Fortunately, no lives were lost, and no injuries were reported. However, the incident serves as a reminder of the dangers of leaving electrical appliances on overnight, especially in areas close to flammable materials or fuel sources.
Residents have praised the fire service for their prompt response, while also calling on the government to strengthen fire safety awareness campaigns in communities and provide more support for emergency services.
As investigations continue, shop owners in the area are counting their losses and urging fellow traders to always take necessary precautions to avoid such disasters in the future.
