A devastating fire tore through three shops at Sawmill Abaletu along Saki Road in Iseyin, Oyo State, leaving properties worth millions of naira in ruins. The inferno, which broke out around 3:54 am on Monday, June 23, 2025, sent shockwaves through the community as traders watched helplessly while their goods went up in flames.
Eyewitness accounts revealed that the fire originated from one of the shops occupied by a phone repair technician who reportedly left a piece of equipment plugged in overnight. The unattended device is believed to have overheated, igniting nearby combustible materials and triggering the blaze.
Confirming the incident, Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Service, Hon. Maroof Akinwande, said his team, led by ACFS Azeez, arrived swiftly at the scene following a distress call. Despite the intensity of the fire, the firefighters successfully prevented it from spreading to seven other nearby shops and properties.
Akinwande praised the prompt response of the fire service team but lamented the substantial losses suffered by affected traders. “While three shops were completely gutted, we were able to save the remaining businesses in the area,” he stated in an official release.
Preliminary investigations by the fire service pointed to negligence as the primary cause, with Akinwande issuing fresh warnings to business owners and residents about the dangers of leaving electrical appliances unattended, especially after closing hours.
Although no lives were lost, affected shop owners counted their losses, with some estimating that goods worth several millions of naira were destroyed, including mobile devices, accessories, and essential business equipment.
As cleanup efforts begin, community leaders and shop owners are calling on the state government for relief and intervention to help the victims rebuild their livelihoods.
