A tragic incident occurred in Ibadan, Oyo State, where a 30-year-old welder, Alabi Quadri, lost his life and four others sustained injuries during a fire incident on Saturday. The incident, which took place in the Badmus area, opposite Agbala Daniel Church, on Ojoo-Iwo-Road, in the Akinyele Local Government Area of the state, was reportedly caused by a gas explosion and resulted in the burning of about six trailers within a workshop.
An eyewitness revealed that Alabi Quadri died early on Sunday at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, where he was rushed for treatment. The four others who suffered varying degrees of injury were taken to different hospitals in the Ibadan metropolis, including UCH, Oyo Mesi Specialist Hospital in Orogun, and Hamdalat Hospital in Ojoo.
The fire incident occurred at the workshop, affecting six trailers, including those belonging to customers. Segun Ajiboye, one of the affected mechanics, explained that the fire started a few cars away from his shop. According to him, Quadri was using a generator to work on a vehicle, and there was another person nearby using oxygen and gas. Unfortunately, the pipe of the oxygen burst, leading to a sudden fire outbreak.
In a related incident, an overnight fire caused by an electric surge destroyed about 24 shops at Sango market in the Ibadan North Local Government Area. Goods worth millions of naira were lost in the fire, leaving traders devastated as they faced the challenge of rebuilding and restarting their businesses, which served as their sole source of livelihood.
The General Manager of the state Fire Service, Yemi Akinyinka, confirmed both fire outbreaks but indicated that he did not have detailed information on the Badmus inferno until he returned to the office on Monday. The incidents underscore the need for safety measures and precautions in various establishments to prevent such tragic events.
