Traders at the popular Bode Market in Ibadan, Oyo State, have suffered heavy losses after an early morning fire swept through sections of the market, destroying shops and goods valued at millions of naira.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday at the market located in Ibadan South West Local Government Area.
Although the exact cause of the blaze had yet to be determined as of the time of filing this report, the fire left several business owners devastated.
An eyewitness, who identified herself simply as Serifat, said the inferno caused extensive destruction, leaving many traders struggling to assess the scale of their losses.
“The blaze caused extensive damage, leaving many traders counting their losses. We have not known the cause of this fire incident,” she said.
Firefighters were reportedly deployed to the scene shortly after the outbreak and succeeded in containing the flames before they spread to other parts of the market.
Bode Market is one of the largest and busiest commercial centres in the Ibadan metropolis.
It is widely recognised as a major hub for the sale of herbs, animal skins and other traditional products, attracting traders and customers from across the South-West and other parts of the country.
The latest incident has revived concerns over recurring fire outbreaks in major markets across Oyo State.
A similar tragedy occurred in September 2024 when a fire destroyed more than 40 shops in the herbal section of Oranyan Market in Ibadan North East Local Government Area.
Although no lives were lost in that incident, goods and herbs worth millions of naira were destroyed.
Victims of the 2024 fire, including the market’s youth leader, Fatimoh Adebimpe, as well as traders Kafaya Lucky and Kehinde Moronfade, said the cause of the blaze was never established.
Adebimpe recalled that traders had already closed for the day when the fire broke out.
“We normally resume here around 7:00 a.m. and close by 7:00 p.m. Whenever the closing bell rings, everyone leaves the market. Most of us were already at home when those living close to the market called around 10:00 p.m. to inform us that the market was on fire,” she said.
Friday’s incident has once again highlighted the vulnerability of major markets to fire disasters, with affected traders now awaiting support as they begin to recover from the latest losses.
