Millions of naira worth of goods and property were reportedly lost on Thursday night when fire gutted eight shops at the Bola-Ige International Business Complex, New Gbagi, Ibadan, Oyo State.
No casualty was recorded in the incident, which was reported to the Oyo State Fire Services Agency at 7:21 p.m. on October 29, 2026.

The fire affected shops in the section of the complex between Ajegunle and Kudus areas.
According to the operational report of the Fire Services Agency, firefighters led by Assistant Chief Fire Superintendent Adisa Wasiu were immediately deployed to the scene following the distress call.

The team later requested reinforcement from the agency’s headquarters, prompting the deployment of two additional fire trucks led by the Director of Operations, Engr. I.A. Adeleke.
The coordinated firefighting operation successfully extinguished the fire and prevented it from spreading to adjoining shops and neighbouring properties.

The firefighting appliances returned safely to the station at about 11:32 p.m.
Although the exact cause of the outbreak has not been established, preliminary findings by the Fire Services Agency reportedly suggested that it might have originated from electrical sparks from an inverter system installed in one of the affected shops, which allegedly ignited nearby combustible materials.

The finding remains subject to further investigation.
The incident attracted the attention of the Oyo State Ministry of Investment, Trade, Cooperatives and Industry, the management of the complex and market leaders.

The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Olajide Mamud Okesade, who visited the scene on behalf of the Commissioner, Prof. Salihu Abdulwaheed Adelabu, engaged stakeholders and offered support and reassurance to affected traders.
The commissioner reiterated the state government’s commitment to protecting traders, their businesses and property, while ensuring a safe and conducive trading environment.

The government commended the Fire Services Agency, market leaders, traders, the complex management and the Nigeria Police Force, Gbagi Divisional Headquarters, for their contributions to containing the outbreak.
In a related development, the Special Adviser on Fire Services Reform and Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Services Agency, Dr Moroof Adebayo Akinwande, urged traders and members of the public to adopt preventive measures against fire outbreaks.

He urged shop owners and market managers to provide and maintain functional fire extinguishers and ensure that access roads and emergency routes remained free of obstructions to allow firefighters unhindered access during emergencies.
Akinwande also called on residents to report fire incidents promptly and provide accurate location details to facilitate rapid response.

The Oyo State Government assured traders that it would continue to pay attention to their welfare and the safety of the business complex as investigations into the incident and assessment of the damage continue.