A massive fire has caused the destruction of property worth millions of naira at the RSD Shopping Complex located in the Ogungbade area of Ibadan. The fire, which broke out on the upper floor of the complex on Thursday afternoon, spread quickly, consuming a large portion of the building, but fortunately, no lives were lost.
The General Manager of Oyo State Fire Service, Mr. Yemi Akinyinka, confirmed the incident and revealed that the agency’s control room received an urgent distress call at exactly 12:58 PM on February 27, 2025. The fire service responded immediately, with a team of professionals, led by Assistant Chief Fire Service Officer (ACFS) Olubunmi, rushing to the scene.
Upon their arrival, the fire was already raging on the upper floor of the storey building. Quick thinking and decisive action by the fire service personnel helped contain the blaze before it could spread to the ground floor and nearby properties. A team of police officers from the Adegbayi Police Division and Yemetu were also deployed to the scene to maintain order and provide security, ensuring the safety of the personnel involved in the fire-fighting efforts.
Despite the considerable damage to the upper floor, which was completely destroyed by the fire, the quick response of the fire service prevented the fire from affecting other floors and adjacent buildings. The ground floor of the shopping complex and surrounding properties were spared from extensive damage, thanks to the containment efforts of the fire service.
The fire incident has left many business owners devastated, as the shopping complex housed numerous shops and commercial establishments. The extent of the financial loss has yet to be fully determined, but it is expected that the destruction will amount to millions of naira in damages.
The Oyo State Fire Service team worked tirelessly to extinguish the fire and prevent further destruction. While there were no casualties reported, the incident has left many people shaken, especially considering the heavy losses incurred by the affected businesses.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, with authorities working to determine whether it was an accident or if foul play was involved. In the meantime, local officials have praised the efforts of the emergency services, particularly the fire and police teams, for their quick and effective response.