A fire yesterday gutted a residential building at Amolegbe House on Omoleye Street in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State. Eyewitnesses said the incident was caused by an electrical cooker that had been left unattended, which ignited nearby combustible materials and triggered a blaze that quickly consumed the building.

Confirming the incident, Special Adviser on Fire Reform and Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Services Agency, Moroof Akinwande, said the agency received a distress call at about 9:50 a.m. and promptly deployed a response team to the scene.

“The report came in through a telephone call by Mr Raji Azeez, alerting us to a fire at the stated address. Our firemen, led by Chief Fire Superintendent (CFS) Olayiwola, responded swiftly and arrived to find the private residential building engulfed in flames,” Akinwande said.

He added that the firefighters acted quickly to stop the blaze from spreading to neighbouring properties, ensuring that surrounding buildings and residents were not affected.

“Although the building was seriously damaged by the fire, we are grateful to report that no casualties were recorded,” he said. Following the operation, the fire team carried out on-the-spot safety sensitisation for residents, warning them about the risks of electrical negligence and careless use of appliances.

Akinwande urged the public to exercise caution when using electrical devices and to ensure they are properly managed, especially when left unattended.

“Every household should prioritise having functional fire extinguishers and be familiar with basic fire safety protocols. Early detection and swift action can save lives and property,” he stressed.