Traders Count Heavy Losses As Fire Guts Ibadan Market

A devastating fire outbreak has destroyed hundreds of shops at Bode Market in the Molete area of Ibadan, Oyo State, leaving traders counting huge losses after the inferno swept through the market in the early hours of Friday.

The fire reportedly started before dawn and spread rapidly through sections of the bustling market, consuming shops stocked with food items, household goods, and other merchandise.

Eyewitnesses said the intensity of the blaze made it difficult to contain, allowing the flames to spread from one part of the market to another before emergency responders could bring the situation under control.

Videos circulating online showed distraught traders arriving at the scene only to find their shops reduced to ashes. Many were seen crying as they watched the remains of their businesses smoulder, while others searched through the debris in a desperate attempt to recover anything salvageable.

The inferno completely razed the affected section, with traders reporting the loss of goods worth millions of naira. The full extent of the damage has yet to be officially determined.

As of the time of filing this report, authorities had not confirmed the cause of the fire.

Meanwhile, Affected traders appealed to the Oyo State Government and relevant emergency agencies to provide urgent relief and support, saying the disaster had wiped out their only means of livelihood.

One trader, overwhelmed by the loss, said, "Everything is gone. We don't know where to start from again."

The incident has left many families facing uncertainty as business owners struggle to come to terms with the destruction caused by the fire.

The incident comes only weeks after a similar fire outbreak occurred at Dugbe Market in Ibadan.