Fire Destroys 300 Shops At Popular Oranyan Market In Ibadan

Fire outbreak at Oranyan Market in Ibadan destroys almost 300 shops as gold, furniture and okrika traders count losses.

Traders at the popular Oranyan Market in Ibadan are counting huge losses after a midnight fire outbreak. Oranyan Market is one of the major commercial hubs in Ibadan. It houses hundreds of small business owners.

The fire, which happened on Sunday, August 24, destroyed hundreds of shops in the busy market located in Ibadan North-East Local Government Area of Oyo State.

Eyewitnesses say the inferno started around midnight. It spread quickly to several sections of the market before help could come.

One of the traders, a woman simply identified as Iya Alia, said she could not place the exact time the fire started.

According to her, the fire began in the middle of the night and affected a large part of the market.

She said, "The fire started around midnight. I cannot be specific about that time. Those affected were gold sellers, furniture sellers, second-hand clothes sellers and many others. The shops affected were almost 300."

As of the time of filing this report, the fire has been contained.

However, the cause of the fire is still unknown. No official statement has been given yet on what triggered the outbreak.

Authorities are expected to begin an assessment of the damage and investigate the cause.

Meanwhile, affected traders are calling for support from the Oyo State Government and well-meaning Nigerians to help them get back on their feet.