Property worth millions of naira has been lost following a major fire that tore through part of the staff residential quarters at The Polytechnic, Ibadan in the early hours of Wednesday, May 7, 2025.
According to reports, the fire started around 2 a.m. and affected three of the four rooms in the building located within the staff quarters of the institution in Oyo State.
Fortunately, no lives were lost, but several valuable items and personal belongings were reduced to ashes before the fire was put out.
Yemi Akinyinka, the General Manager of the Oyo State Fire Service, confirmed the development in a statement to The PUNCH. He noted that the cause of the fire was traced to an electrical spark that occurred shortly after power was restored by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).
“The distressed call was received at exactly 02:26hrs on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Firefighters led by ACFS Adesina Olusoji promptly turned out to the scene of the fire incident. On getting there, it was the staff quarters of the institution that were engulfed by fire,” Akinyinka explained.
He further noted that the quick response of the firemen prevented the fire from spreading to nearby buildings. Firefighters from the University of Ibadan also assisted in containing and eventually extinguishing the flames.
“The firemen swiftly swung into action and restricted the fire from spreading to all nearby buildings and properties within the vicinity. The fire was completely extinguished in conjunction with the University of Ibadan Fire Department,” he added.
The fire reportedly affected three rooms severely, destroying furniture, documents, electronics, and other household items belonging to the residents. While efforts are now being made to assess the full extent of the damage, officials say the estimated value of the destroyed property runs into millions of naira.
Residents of the affected quarters are now seeking support from the school authorities and the public to help them recover from the loss.
The Oyo State Fire Service has once again called on residents and institutions to ensure that electrical appliances are properly managed and turned off when not in use to avoid similar incidents. They also advised regular maintenance of wiring systems, especially in older buildings.
