Property worth millions of naira were destroyed on Sunday in Ibadan during a fire incident which ravaged a one-storey building with 10 rooms and three shops.
The inferno destroyed household goods worth millions of naira, while equipment in the shops were also completely ruined.
The incident, which occurred behind a well-known furniture company along Liberty Road, happened when most occupants had left for church.
A hair-dressing salon, a fashion designer’s shop and a foodstuff seller’s shop were also affected, with equipment and consumables worth millions of Naira destroyed.
One of the residents, Abosede Koleoso, who works at a filling station, told journalists that she received a distress call at work alerting her to the fire outbreak.
She narrated: “I was at work as an attendant at a filling station when I received a call that our house was on fire.
“By the time I rushed home, the entire building was engulfed, destroying all rooms and occupants’ properties.
“I was told the fire started in a sitting room upstairs due to an electrical spark, which could not be contained before spreading downstairs.”
Another resident, Karim Akande, thanked God that no life was lost.
Meanwhile, shop owners were seen wailing, even as they declined to comment on the incident.
Other occupants on the ground floor were seen salvaging their belongings and pushing them into taxis and cars, while others gathered in groups discussing the fire.
Yemi Akinyinka, general manager of Oyo State Fire Services Agency, confirmed the fire incident to journalists.
Mr Akinyinka said the incident was reported at 10:34 a.m. via a call from a neighbour stating that a house at No 1, Shoyombo Street, Off Liberty Road, Oke-Ado, Ibadan, was ablaze.
He said: “Immediately, fire personnel led by ACFS Adedeji were deployed to the scene.
“On arrival, we found an ancient one-storey residential building engulfed in flames. We acted swiftly and prevented the fire from spreading to nearby buildings.
“The fire was completely extinguished with assistance from fire marshals at a nearby mall.
“No casualties were recorded. The fire affected the building, but we successfully saved neighbouring structures. The cause was a high voltage surge when power was restored,” Mr Akinyinka said.
