Oyo Govt Commences Investigation Into Bode Market Fire Incident

The Oyo State Government has commenced a post-fire investigation into the cause of the early morning inferno that gutted parts of the popular Bode Market in Ibadan, destroying shops and goods worth millions of naira.

The fire, which broke out in the early hours of Friday, left many traders counting their losses after the blaze engulfed several shops stocked with highly combustible goods.

Speaking on the incident, the Director of Operations of the Oyo State Fire Service, Ismail Adeleke, said the fire had spread extensively before firefighters arrived at the scene. He, however, noted that personnel of the service worked for about five hours before bringing the inferno under total control.

Adeleke said the cause of the fire has yet to be determined, adding that a post-fire investigation has commenced to establish what triggered the incident.

He also assured traders and residents that the findings of the investigation would help prevent similar incidents in the future.

Earlier, videos from the scene showed distraught traders, including market men and women, weeping as they watched the aftermath of the inferno that consumed their shops and wares.

Bode Market is one of the largest markets in Ibadan and is widely known as a major trading hub for herbs, animal skins, traditional medicines and other indigenous products.

The incident has once again highlighted concerns over fire safety in major markets across the state, as affected traders begin to assess the extent of their losses while awaiting the outcome of the government's investigation.