Ibadan fire destroys nine shops at Nigerian Railway complex

An early morning fire destroyed at least nine shops at the Nigerian Railway shopping complex in Aleshinloye Market, Ibadan, Oyo State. The blaze, which began around 4:00 am or 5:00 am on Saturday, caused significant property damage, including the loss of industrial sewing machines, fabrics, window blinds, and other equipment.

One affected trader, Busari Olayemi, estimated the value of the destroyed goods in his interior decoration business at approximately N21 million. While the exact origin of the fire was being investigated, preliminary reports from the Oyo State Fire Services Agency suggested an electrical surge may have triggered the incident.

Firefighters successfully contained the blaze, preventing it from spreading to adjacent properties. No casualties were reported. Authorities have advised traders to disconnect electrical appliances before leaving shops to prevent similar outbreaks caused by power surges.