Three people were injured, and properties worth millions of naira were destroyed in two separate fire incidents in Osogbo, Osun State, on Wednesday evening.
The fires occurred at Omigade Area and Okefia GRA, both within the Osogbo metropolis. The Omigade fire, which affected a storey building, reportedly started from an adjoining structure before spreading. Despite the early response from the Osun State Fire Service, they were unable to fully contain the fire until the early hours of Thursday.
Lateef Ayodeji, an eyewitness, noted the prompt response from the fire service, although the fire raged for several hours. Meanwhile, at Okefia GRA, a resident identified as Mrs. Olasupo reported that operatives from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) assisted residents in extinguishing the fire.
Kehinde Adeleke, Public Relations Officer of the Osun NSCDC, confirmed that three individuals injured in the Omigade fire were treated by medics from the command’s ambulance service. “No lives were lost in either incident,” Adeleke said. He added that the State Emergency Management Agency had been notified for an impact assessment of the damaged Omigade building, which was at risk of collapse.
Ibrahim Adekunle, Public Relations Officer of the Osun State Fire Service, provided additional details. “A night fire suspected to have started around 6 pm on Wednesday destroyed property worth millions. Firefighters from both the Osun State Government and the Federal Fire Service battled the blaze until 12:10 am on Thursday,” Adekunle stated.
Adekunle explained that the fire service received a distress call around 7 pm and deployed operatives from multiple stations, including Fire Service Headquarters, Abere, and Okefia Fire Station. Due to the fire’s intensity, additional personnel from Ede Zonal Fire Station and the Federal Fire Service, led by State Controller Isaac Femi Akinjobi, were dispatched. The fire was brought under control by 9:30 pm.
“No lives were lost, but the property damage is extensive,” Adekunle concluded.
