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Property and other valuables worth millions of naira have been lost to a fire incident that gutted the popular Oranyan Market in Ibadan North-East Local Government Area of Oyo State, on Sunday night.

The affected shops included jewellery shops, furniture outlets, second-hand clothing shops and others.

The cause of the fire, which started in one of the shops before spreading to others, had yet to be ascertained as of the time of filing this report.

A trader, who simply identified herself as Iya Alia, said, “The fire started around midnight. I cannot be specific about that time. And those affected were gold sellers, furniture shops, second-hand clothes shops and many others. The shops affected were almost 300.”

Another eyewitness, who did not want his name in print, said, “This is devastating. This is huge. I don’t even know how to explain it. Close to 300 shops were destroyed.”

When contacted by our correspondent on Monday in Ibadan, the state capital, the Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Fire Reforms and Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Services, Morof Akinwande, confirmed the incident.

He said, “Yes, it occurred. That number we cannot ascertain, but what is known is that some shops were destroyed and the fire incident started in the middle of the market with an explosion.

“Whether it’s a gas explosion or other things, when you have a gas explosion, it would spread. But as I’m talking to you, the situation has been under control since 1am.

“On the number of shops and inventory, that is too early because that’s part of the post-fire outbreak investigation. So, I cannot be accurate about the number of shops that were destroyed. But shops were actually gone.”

Nigerian Tribune reports that a similar incident occurred at the herbal section of the market in 2024, when over 200 shops were completely razed.

It will also be recalled that a fire incident on Saturday, August 22, 2026, razed nine locked-up shops at the Nigerian Railway Shopping Complex, located along the popular Aleshinloye Market in Ibadan South-West Local Government Area of Oyo State.

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Nigerian Navy and Army operatives disrupted illegal petroleum activities in Imo State over the weekend and arrested three suspects in a coordinated operation.

The Navy also destroyed an illegal refining site (IRS) worth millions of naira, which had been dismantled earlier.

These operational successes were detailed in statements released yesterday by the Director of Naval Information (DINFO), Captain Abiodun Folorunsho.

In Imo, personnel from Naval Base Oguta and the Nigerian Army intercepted a tipper truck and a Toyota Hiace bus carrying about 8,500 litres of suspected illegally refined petroleum products along the Ejemekuru-Obudi-Agwa axis.

The Hiace bus was found with about 150 bags of the suspected products. Three suspects were arrested, while other occupants of the second vehicle fled, abandoning it, the Navy said.

The suspects, vehicles and recovered products have been taken into custody for further investigation, the service added.

In Rivers, operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Soroh, acting on intelligence about the suspected reactivation of illegal refining activities, uncovered and disrupted three illegal refining sites in the Okolomade and Ogbogolo areas under Operation Delta Sentinel.

The sites yielded two cooking drums, two large ovens, 10 reservoirs, four storage facilities and two makeshift camps believed to have sheltered illegal refiners. Investigators also recovered about 91,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil and roughly 70 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).

The Navy said the facilities and recovered items were handled in accordance with established procedures.

It said both operations reflected sustained inter-service cooperation and intelligence-led security efforts to disrupt the illegal movement of petroleum products and deny criminal elements access to established routes for economic crimes.

The Navy restated its commitment to deepening collaboration with the Army and other security agencies to combat crude oil theft, illegal refining and the illicit movement of petroleum products, while protecting the country’s critical economic interests.

It pledged that Operation Delta Sentinel would continue to degrade infrastructure supporting oil theft in previously affected areas.

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Terrorists operating in Sokoto State and other parts of the North-West are facing intensified aerial bombardment as the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) sustains airstrikes to disrupt their activities and deny them freedom of movement.

The NAF spokesperson, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, saying the intensified air operations reflected the Service’s determination to sustain pressure on hostile elements, enhance aerial surveillance and maintain the capacity for rapid response to emerging threats.

He said the NAF would continue to provide effective air support to ground forces operating within the Joint Operations Area.

Ejodame said the strengthened air presence was particularly significant in tackling asymmetric threats, as terrorists and bandits often exploit difficult terrain, mobility and concealment to evade ground forces.

According to him, the NAF’s ability to leverage the reach, speed, flexibility and precision of airpower would enhance efforts to locate, disrupt and degrade hostile elements, deny them freedom of movement, and create greater operational opportunities for surface forces to consolidate their gains.

He added that the operations underscored the importance of sustained coordination between air and ground forces in addressing evolving security challenges across the region.

The NAF spokesperson quoted the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, as saying that the Service would continue to optimise the employment of airpower to deliver decisive effects in support of ongoing joint operations.

Aneke stressed that the evolving security environment required timely intelligence, responsive airpower and seamless integration with surface forces.

“Our objective is clear: to sustain the pressure on criminal elements, deny them freedom of action and create the conditions for our surface forces to dominate the operational environment.

“We will continue to employ airpower intelligently, professionally and decisively, in synergy with our sister Services and other security agencies, while maintaining the highest regard for the safety of civilians,” he said.

Ejodame said the NAF remained focused on maintaining operational readiness and ensuring that hostile elements were denied the freedom to threaten innocent communities.

He added that the Service remained committed to supporting national efforts to restore peace and stability across the North-West by working closely with the Nigerian Army and other security agencies to protect lives and property, disrupt terrorist and criminal networks and safeguard vulnerable communities.

The NAF urged Nigerians to support ongoing security operations by providing timely and credible information to the appropriate authorities.

Meanwhile, troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA have rescued six kidnapped victims during a sustained offensive against terrorists in Katsina State.

The Media Information Officer of the operation, Lt.-Col. Aliyu Danja, said the victims were rescued in the Dandume Local Government Area of the state.

Danja said the troops made contact with the terrorists on August 22 while on a fighting patrol, after the criminals had intercepted the victims’ vehicle along the Dandume-Sheme Road and taken them hostage.

He said the troops swiftly advanced to the area and engaged the terrorists with superior firepower, forcing them to abandon their captives and flee into the surrounding bushes.

“The troops advanced to the area and made contact with the terrorists, overwhelming them with superior firepower and forcing them to abandon their captives and flee into the surrounding bushes,” he said.

Danja said the troops subsequently combed the area and rescued all six victims unharmed, recovering N800,000 allegedly taken from them by the terrorists.

He added that the recovered money and vehicle were handed over to the victims in the presence of the Divisional Police Officer, Dandume.

He further disclosed that on August 21, troops of Sector 2 encountered terrorists along the Maraban Kankara axis in Kankara Local Government Area.

According to him, the troops swiftly engaged the terrorists, forcing them to flee in disarray into the surrounding bushes.

“Troops pursued the fleeing elements before exploiting the area, during which one motorcycle was recovered,” he said.

Danja said the Joint Task Force North-West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, remained resolute in sustaining aggressive patrols and offensive operations to deny terrorists freedom of action and protect lives and property.

“The Theatre appreciates the continued support of members of the public and urges communities to provide timely and credible information to security forces in support of ongoing operations,” he said.