Get Guardian on GoogleGoods worth millions of naira were destroyed in the early hours of Friday after a fire gutted parts of the popular Bode Market in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The inferno, which broke out before dawn, razed several shops, destroying merchandise and other valuables, while leaving scores of traders counting their losses.
The cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained as of the time of filing this report.
Videos from the scene showed distraught traders, including men and women, lamenting the destruction as they watched the charred remains of their shops and goods.
Firefighters were deployed to the market and eventually contained the blaze, preventing it from spreading to other sections of the busy commercial hub.
Emergency responders, however, faced challenges accessing parts of the market due to its congested layout and closely packed structures, which hampered firefighting operations.
No casualty was reported at the time of filing this report.
Bode Market, one of the largest markets in Ibadan, is a major trading hub for herbs, animal skins and other traditional products.
The extent of the losses was still being assessed, while traders called on the state government and relevant agencies to support affected shop owners.
