Fire breaks out at Gbagi market in ibadan, millions lost in property damage

Another fire outbreak struck Ibadan on Sunday, causing significant damage at the well-known Gbagi Market. The blaze, which erupted around 1:23 p.m., destroyed two shops before firefighters successfully contained it, averting a wider disaster in one of the city’s most crowded commercial centres.

Eyewitnesses and emergency responders at the scene confirmed that the fire initially spread rapidly, but quick intervention from the Oyo State Fire Services helped prevent more extensive losses. The incident marks yet another in a series of fire-related emergencies that have plagued markets in the city.

Speaking to journalists, the General Manager of the Oyo State Fire Services, Akinyemi Akinyinka, confirmed the development.

“Gbagi Market is on fire, but it has now been contained and brought under control,” he said.

He elaborated further, stating: “We received distress calls from our officers stationed at Gbagi, as well as from the Divisional Police Officer and several market leaders, around 1:23 p.m. Our team arrived on site by 1:30 p.m. Two shops were already engulfed in flames. The fire has been extinguished, and our officers are currently carrying out post-fire cooling operations.”

As of the time of reporting, the exact cause of the fire had not been determined. However, Akinyinka assured that a detailed report would be compiled once the response team returns to the fire service headquarters and concludes its investigation.

Although there were no reported casualties, the incident has reignited fears among traders who have repeatedly voiced concerns about fire safety in the market. Shop owners expressed frustration over the vulnerability of their businesses, with many lamenting the frequent occurrence of fires in what remains one of Ibadan’s oldest and most active marketplaces.