An Ibadan industrial fire at Shril-Balaj Limited has destroyed millions in property, raising safety concerns across Oyo State’s manufacturing sector

An early morning Ibadan industrial fire has destroyed property worth millions of naira at Shril-Balaj Industrial Limited in the Olopomeji area of the city.

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The incident occurred on Sunday and affected the recycling section of the facility, which stored a large volume of disused tyres.

Eyewitnesses reported that the fire spread rapidly, with thick smoke visible across the area. One resident said, “The flames shot up so quickly, it was terrifying. We could do nothing but watch.”

Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Service, Maroof Akinwande, confirmed the report. He stated that the incident was first communicated to the agency at 7:07 am on Sunday.

According to Akinwande, the Ibadan industrial fire was triggered by an explosion from a running machine. The blast ignited nearby materials, leading to an uncontrollable blaze.

“The fire incident was a result of the explosion of a running machine, which ignited nearby combustibles and set the section ablaze,” he explained.

While the recycling unit and tyres were completely destroyed, fire responders managed to stop the blaze from spreading to other sections of the factory.

He added, “The fire affected the recycling section and disused tyres, whilst the fire service was able to save other sections of the company from the devastating fire.”

Though no casualties were reported, the monetary loss is expected to be substantial. Officials have not released an official estimate but confirmed that several millions in assets were affected.

The Ibadan industrial fire has sparked renewed calls for stricter safety enforcement in industrial zones across Oyo State.

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An investigation is now underway to determine the exact cause and assess the level of compliance with fire safety regulations.