Fire Destroys 15 Shops At Bodija International Market In Ibadan
A fire has destroyed 15 shops at Bodija International Market, Block D, popularly known as Iso Ewa, in Ibadan, Oyo State, in the early hours of Monday. The Special Adviser on Fire Services Reform and Chairman of the Oyo…
Bodija International Market, also known as Iso Ewa, is one of Ibadan's largest foodstuff markets, serving as a major hub for grains, tubers and other produce traded across Oyo State and beyond. Fires are a recurring hazard in Nigerian markets, often blamed on poor electrical wiring, overloaded connections, naked flames from cooking or lanterns, and the densely packed wooden stalls that allow blazes to spread quickly before fire services can respond.
Early reports agree the fire broke out in the early hours of Monday and destroyed 15 shops in the market's Block D section, with Vanguard adding that a further 25 shops were partially damaged. Details such as the cause of the fire, the value of goods lost, and whether any traders were injured have not yet been established, and officials, including the Oyo State fire services reform adviser mentioned in one report, are likely to issue updates as assessments continue.