Fire Destroys Eight Shops, Goods Worth Millions at Ibadan’s Gbagi Market -

A late-night fire outbreak has destroyed goods and household items worth millions of naira at Gbagi Market in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The incident, which occurred on Thursday night, October 29, 2026, affected at least eight large shops within the popular market located along the Ibadan–Ife Expressway.

Confirming the incident, the Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Service, Hon. Maroof Akinwande, disclosed in a statement on Friday morning that no lives were lost in the fire.

According to him, firefighters arrived at the scene to find several shops already engulfed in flames, with thick smoke spreading across the affected areas.

Akinwande explained that the swift intervention of the fire service prevented the inferno from spreading to other sections of the market, thereby limiting further destruction.

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However, he identified illegal structures and goods obstructing access roads within the market as major challenges encountered by firefighters during the operation.

He noted that the obstructions made it difficult for firefighting trucks to gain easy access to the affected area, potentially complicating emergency response efforts.

Although no casualties were recorded, traders are counting their losses following the destruction of their goods and other valuable property.

The incident has once again highlighted the importance of maintaining accessible emergency routes and enforcing safety regulations in busy commercial centres to prevent avoidable losses during fire outbreaks.