Ola Akinwunmi
In the early hours of Friday, May 2, 2025, a fire broke out in the Sango area of Ibadan, razing three prefabricated shops and sending shockwaves through the local business community. The blaze, which started around 4:30 a.m. behind the Fart Oil Filling Station, is believed to have been caused by an electrical spark from a plugged-in freezer that ignited nearby flammable materials.
Out of a row of ten shops, three were completely consumed by the flames before emergency responders arrived. Although no lives were lost, the fire destroyed property—including freezers and drinks—estimated to be worth several million naira.
Firefighters led by ACFS Adedeji (Mrs) arrived on the scene at 4:41 a.m. and managed to contain the blaze before it could spread further. “On arrival, it was discovered that three shops were well alight. We swiftly swung into action and prevented the fire from spreading to other shops. The blaze was completely extinguished, and no casualty was recorded,” said Yemi Akinyinka, State General Manager of the Fire Service.
Preliminary investigations suggest the fire began with a freezer left plugged in overnight, underscoring the risks of unattended electrical appliances.
Local residents and shop owners expressed relief that the swift response prevented wider destruction, but the incident has sparked renewed concern over safety standards in commercial areas. Authorities are continuing their investigation, while community leaders call on business owners to strengthen fire safety protocols to avert future tragedies.
