Traders at the popular Bode Market in Ibadan, Oyo State, have been left counting heavy losses after a devastating fire swept through sections of the market in the early hours of Friday, destroying shops and goods valued at millions of naira.
The blaze reportedly erupted at about 4:00 a.m., with the herbal section of the market suffering the most extensive damage as flames rapidly engulfed dozens of shops before emergency responders arrived.
Eyewitnesses said the fire spread quickly, consuming merchandise, equipment and other valuable property, leaving many business owners helpless as years of investment went up in flames.
When firefighters eventually reached the scene, they battled the inferno and successfully prevented it from spreading to other parts of the bustling market.
Speaking after the incident, the Director of Operations of the Oyo State Fire Services Agency, Ismael Adeleke, disclosed that the agency received a distress call at about 4:33 a.m.
He explained that although several shops had already been consumed by the fire before firefighters arrived, their prompt intervention helped bring the situation under control.
The Babaloja General of Oyo State, Yekeen Abass, who visited the affected traders alongside other market leaders, expressed sympathy to the victims and thanked God that no lives were lost despite the scale of the destruction.
He assured traders that efforts would be made to seek government assistance to support those whose businesses were affected by the disaster.
Many of the victims were seen inspecting the ruins of their shops and salvaging whatever items survived the fire, while others appealed to the government and well-meaning Nigerians for financial support to help them rebuild their businesses.
Bode Market is one of Ibadan’s largest commercial centres and is widely known for the sale of herbs, animal skins and other traditional products, making it an important source of livelihood for hundreds of traders.
