No fewer than 20 shops were raised in an early morning fire incident at the ancient Oranyan market in Ibadan with worth millions of naira burnt to ashes.
It was learnt that the fire incident was first noticed at about 2:45am in the herbal section of the market after which it spread to the shops in other parts of the market.
Eye witness account said residents in the nearly compounds to the market became aware of the fire incident with thick flames emanating from the scene of the incident that suddenly enveloped the area in the early hours of the day.
“We put up efforts to resist the fire from spreading to other areas but to no avail as it became uncontrollable. We couldn’t trace the source of the incident but it might not be unconnected with the power surge.”
The General Manager of the Oyo State Fires Services, Mr. Yemi Akinyinka, when contacted confirmed the fire incident, saying the Fire Services Headquarters received fire emergency call at exactly 23:25hrs.