Tears, agony as fire guts popular Ibadan market again

Ibadan: Araromi market, located inside Agodi, adjacent the Correctional Service on Thursday night, recorded another fire incident.

The market is notable for sales of auto spare parts and accessories.

Scavengers and those who live on dismantling vehicles also make a living from abandoned cars in the market.

It was gathered not less than 12 shops with properties worth millions were destroyed in the latest fire incident.

Eyewitness account states that the incident started at Block A, No 64 Mayegun Cement store around 10:55pm.

The incident, which lasted for several hours, was attributed to surge in power supply to the area.

Confirming the incident, General Manager of Oyo Fire Service, Yemi Akinyinka, said the agency received the distressed call at exactly 11:02pm.

Akinyinka said: “The agency’s control room received the distressed call at exactly 23:02 hrs on Thursday, April 10, 2025 through telephoning and Mr Young to shop on fire at the above address.

“The fire personnel led by CFS Jimoh promptly deployed to the scene of the fire incident. On arrival, we met some lockup shops well alight and we swiftly swung into action and restricted the fire from spreading to other nearby shops.

“The fire affected 12 out of multiple numbers of shops and we were able to save property worth billions of naira in the market. The appliance returned to the station by 03:18hrs and on standby.”

There have been multiple fire incidents at Araromi Market, Agodi Gate, Ibadan in recent times.

The Nation reports on January 14, 2023, a fire broke out at the market, gutting over 25 shops.

The fire started from one shop and spread to others due to the late arrival of the fire fighters.

The cause was attributed to scavengers burning disused tires, which ignited nearby combustibles.

On December 20, 2024, another fire incident occurred with flames engulfing the market around 2 am.

The fire destroyed properties worth millions, and traders suffered heavy losses.

The cause of the fire was uncertain but early reports suggested it might have been triggered by an electrical fault.

On March 30, 2025, the market was engulfed in flames around 2 am.

The fire destroyed properties worth millions and initial report didn’t give the immediate and remote cause of the incident.

The incidents have resulted in significant losses with traders anyways clamouring for enhanced safety measures in the market.

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