Traders are currently counting their losses after goods worth millions of naira were destroyed by fire in the early hours of Friday at the popular Bode market, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Bode Market is one of the largest markets in Ibadan and is widely known as a major trading hub for herbs, animal skins and other traditional products.

Traders at the market are currently counting their losses as the fire raged through parts of the market, with several shops being razed.

The cause of the inferno was yet to be ascertained as of the time of filing this report.

Footage of the scene showed distraught traders, including market men and women, weeping as they watched the aftermath of the fire that consumed their shops and wares.

‎Firefighters were promptly deployed to the scene and eventually brought the fire under control, preventing it from spreading further.

‎Meanwhile, access to some sections of the market proved difficult due to the congested layout and clusters of shops, which hampered firefighting efforts.

Commiserating with the traders, the immediate past Minister of Power and All Progressives Congress, APC, gubernatorial aspirant in Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has expressed sympathy with traders affected by a fire incident that occurred this morning at Bode Market, Molete, Ibadan.

Adelabu described the incident as “unfortunate” and lamented the losses suffered by the affected traders who rely on the market for their daily livelihood.

He said the incident underscores the urgent need for stronger fire prevention and emergency response measures in major commercial hubs across the state.

In a statement by his Media Aide, Comrade Femi Awogboro, Adelabu, said he feels the pain of the victims personally.

“As an entrepreneur, business owner, and someone whose parent is also a trader, Chief Adelabu sympathises deeply with all the traders affected by the fire incident at Bode Market this morning,” the statement read.

The former minister called on the Oyo State Government to take decisive steps to prevent a recurrence.

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Also, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo state, Sharafadeen Alli, has donated N25million to the affected traders at the market.

Alli announced during a visit to the market, where he personally commiserated with victims and traders who suffered losses in the unfortunate incident.

He was received by traders at the market led by the Babaloja, Mr .Salau Oloya, and the Iyaloja, Mrs Sikira Alaja.

Speaking during the visit, Senator Alli assured the affected traders that the APC would always identify with the pains and aspirations of the people, especially during periods of hardship and distress.

Alli stressed that leadership must go beyond rhetoric and political campaigns, insisting that people-oriented governance requires prompt response, empathy and tangible support for citizens in moments of crisis.

He said that the APC remains committed to restoring hope to the people of Oyo state through responsible leadership, responsive governance and strategic interventions aimed at improving livelihoods.

Meanwhile, there was a fire outbreak on Friday at the Bono Energy Terminal located within the Ibru Jetty Complex along the Apapa–Oworonshoki Expressway, near Coconut Bus Stop in Olodi Apapa.

The fire, which involved a five-million-litre Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) storage tank, was reported at about 12:04 p.m. Firefighters from the Ajegunle, Sari Iganmu and Isolo Fire Stations responded promptly and arrived at the scene by 12:16 p.m.

Operatives of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and emergency responders successfully contained the fire in collaboration with teams from neighbouring oil and gas facilities and extinguished it at 1:54 p.m.

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The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service said the swift and coordinated response prevented the fire from spreading to adjoining storage tanks and other critical infrastructure, thereby averting extensive damage.

In a statement signed by the Controller General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, the agency disclosed that the cause of the fire had yet to be determined, adding that investigations were ongoing.

“No casualties were recorded in the incident,” the statement noted.

The agency also commended the professionalism and cooperation of all emergency responders and stakeholders involved in the operation, describing their collective efforts as instrumental to the successful containment of the fire.

In another major show of solidarity, the Oyo APC State Women Leader, Dr. Adekemi Opatunde, donated N5 million and 15,000 nose masks to further support affected traders and enhance safety measures within the market environment.

Her intervention was applauded by traders, especially women, who described the gesture as timely, thoughtful and deeply encouraging at a difficult moment for many families. (The Nation)