Hundreds of shops were destroyed after a massive fire swept through Bode Market in the Molete area of Ibadan, Oyo State, in the early hours of Friday, July 3, 2026.
The fire reportedly started around 1:00 a.m. from an unknown source before spreading quickly across the busy market.
Bode Market is one of the largest traditional markets in Ibadan South West Local Government Area, known for the sale of herbs, roots, animal skins, and other indigenous products.
The inferno razed shops containing food items, household goods, valuables, and other merchandise worth millions of naira.
Officials of the Oyo State Fire Service responded to a distress call at about 4:00 a.m. and eventually brought the fire under control, preventing it from spreading to nearby homes and businesses.
One affected trader, overwhelmed by the destruction, said, “Everything is gone. We don’t know where to start from again.”
Videos from the scene showed heartbroken traders searching through the burnt remains of their shops while thick smoke covered parts of the market.
Authorities are yet to determine the exact cause of the fire.
The affected traders have appealed to Seyi Makinde and the Oyo State Government for urgent financial support, saying the disaster has wiped out their only means of livelihood.
