A fire outbreak at the Nigerian Railway shopping complex along the Aleshinloye axis of Ibadan, Oyo State, has destroyed nine locked-up shops.
The incident occurred around 5:00 am on Saturday, leaving traders with losses running into millions of naira.
One of the worst-hit businesses was an interior decoration shop owned by Busari Olayemi.
Olayemi said he lost industrial sewing machines, curtain fabrics, tools and customers’ materials worth more than ₦21 million.
The Oyo State Fire Services Agency said it received a distress call at about 5:58 am and immediately deployed firefighters to the scene.
A second 10,000-litre water tanker was also dispatched to support the operation.
Firefighters reportedly arrived to find nine shops engulfed in flames and thick smoke.
After a coordinated operation, the blaze was brought under control before it could spread to nearby shops and properties.
No death or injury was recorded in the incident.
The fire service said preliminary findings indicated that an electrical surge may have triggered the blaze after igniting combustible materials.
Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Services Agency, Moroof Akinwande, urged market authorities and shop owners to regularly inspect their electrical installations.
He warned that proper electrical maintenance and stronger fire-prevention measures were necessary to prevent similar incidents in Ibadan’s commercial centres.
