Residents of the Sango area of Ibadan were thrown into panic over the weekend after a fire outbreak engulfed a storey residential building, destroying six rooms and sending thick plumes of smoke into the sky.
The incident occurred at No. 51, Alemuloke Street, a busy and densely populated part of the ancient city, raising fears of a wider disaster before emergency responders brought the situation under control.
According to the Oyo State Fire Services Agency, the fire broke out on Saturday, December 27, 2025, and was reported to its headquarters at about 6:27 p.m. through a distress call from alarmed residents of the neighbourhood.
Firefighters from the state agency, led by Chief Fire Superintendent Adedeji, were immediately deployed to the scene, racing against time amid concerns that the blaze could spread rapidly to nearby buildings.
On arrival, fire officers discovered that six out of the 12 rooms in the building, all located on the upper floor, had already been engulfed by fire, intensifying the urgency of the operation.
Through swift and coordinated intervention, the firefighters were able to contain the blaze, preventing it from spreading to the remaining rooms, the ground floor of the building and adjoining houses along the crowded street.
The firefighting operation was a joint effort between the Oyo State Fire Services Agency and the Federal Fire Service, Ibadan Command, whose collaboration proved crucial in bringing the inferno under control within a short period.
Eyewitnesses described the atmosphere as tense, with residents and passersby gathering in large numbers as thick smoke billowed into the air, sparking fears that the entire building might be lost.
Several residents later expressed relief that the fire was successfully contained, noting that the outcome could have been far worse given the density of buildings and the presence of flammable materials in the area.
Officials confirmed that no casualties were recorded during the incident, a development attributed to the timely response of firefighters and the cooperation of occupants and neighbours who quickly vacated the building.
After the fire was completely extinguished, the fire appliance returned safely to the station at about 8:32 p.m. and was placed on standby for further emergency calls.
Reacting to the incident, the Special Adviser on Fire Reform and Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Services Agency, Dr. Moroof Adebayo Akinwande, commended the firefighters for their professionalism and rapid response, noting that their efforts averted a potentially devastating situation.
He urged residents of Ibadan and other parts of the state to always give way to emergency vehicles, particularly fire trucks, and advised households to install fire extinguishers, stressing that early intervention remains key to preventing fire outbreaks from escalating into major disasters.
