A fierce fire outbreak on Thursday afternoon wreaked havoc in the bustling Ile-Ewe area of the Sawmill in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, destroying properties worth millions of Naira and sending shock through the commercial hub. The inferno, which tore through six of ten locked shops, sparked panic among traders and residents as thick smoke and flames engulfed the area.
The fire, first reported at about 2:08 PM by a concerned resident, Mr. David Ajagbe, prompted an immediate emergency call to the Oyo State Fire Services Agency. Responding to the alert, a team led by Chief Fire Superintendent (CFS) Dairo swiftly arrived at the scene and launched a coordinated firefighting operation.
According to the agency’s Chairman, Mr. Maroof Akinwande, who confirmed the incident in a statement from Ibadan on Friday, the timely intervention of fire service operatives was instrumental in preventing the inferno from spreading to other parts of the busy market. “The fire gutted six shops, causing the loss of properties estimated at several millions of Naira. However, the prompt response of our firefighters helped contain the blaze and saved surrounding structures from further damage,” he said.
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While no lives were lost, the emotional and financial toll on affected shop owners remains devastating, as they begin to count their losses from what many described as one of the most destructive fires the area has witnessed in recent years.
Investigations are ongoing to uncover the cause of the blaze, as authorities work to determine whether faulty electrical connections or human negligence triggered the fire. The incident has renewed calls for stronger fire safety measures and better emergency preparedness in commercial centers across Oyo State.
