A devastating late-night fire swept through the Mayegun Cement Store Market in Ibadan’s Araromi area on Thursday, completely destroying 12 shops and causing extensive property damage estimated at several million naira. The blaze, which eyewitnesses reported started around 10:55 PM, raged uncontrollably for over three hours before firefighters managed to contain it.
According to multiple accounts from traders and residents, the inferno originated from an electrical surge near highly combustible materials in Block A of the market located close to Agodi-Gate. Thick smoke and intense flames illuminated the night sky as panicked shop owners and neighbors attempted to salvage whatever goods they could before the fire spread.
The Oyo State Fire Service confirmed receiving a distress call at exactly 11:02 PM from a Mr. Young. Fire Service General Manager Yemi Akinyinka detailed the emergency response: “Our team arrived swiftly to find multiple lockup shops fully engulfed. Through coordinated efforts, we prevented the flames from spreading to adjacent businesses, potentially saving property worth billions of naira.” Firefighters remained on the scene until 3:18 AM ensuring complete extinguishment and monitoring for potential flare-ups.
Preliminary investigations by fire officials have identified faulty electrical wiring as the probable cause, though a full forensic examination is underway. The destroyed shops contained various merchandise including building materials, household goods, and food items, leaving several traders facing significant financial losses.
Market leaders have called on the state government to provide emergency relief to affected traders while urging improved electrical infrastructure in the commercial area. This incident marks the third major market fire in Ibadan this year, raising concerns about fire safety measures in the state’s business districts.
