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No fewer than 20 shops were razed and goods worth over ₦200 million destroyed on Saturday night after fire gutted the NIPOST shopping complex beside the Dugbe General Post Office in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.
The midnight inferno, which started around 11:30 p.m., was triggered by a lone accident involving a Lexus saloon car, eyewitnesses said.
According to accounts, the driver, who was reportedly speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol, lost control while heading from Queen’s Cinema area towards Iyaganku.
The vehicle hit a giant billboard in front of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, Ibadan Station, somersaulted and split into two.
The rear section of the car, containing a CNG tank and back tyres, rolled into the NIPOST shopping complex and exploded on impact.
The explosion sparked the fire that razed about 20 shops dealing in stationery, computer accessories, and clothing materials.
It took the timely intervention of men of the Oyo State Fire Service to prevent the flames from spreading to the General Post Office and other nearby shops.
The two occupants of the Lexus, suspected to be internet fraudsters heading to a nightclub on the Ring Road axis, reportedly escaped unhurt.
The billboard hit by the car carried campaign messages of Hon. Adedeji Dhokrullahi Olajide, popularly known as Odidiomo of the Allied People’s Movement, APM, and Hon. Adebukola Ajaja of the Accord Party, both contesting the Oyo South Senatorial District seat in the 2027 general elections.
Security operatives and fire service personnel were still battling to control the situation when our correspondent visited the scene around 8:00 a.m. on Sunday.
One of the affected traders, Mr. Kingsley Chioma, said the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, in charge of Iyaganku Police Station assured that the driver would be arrested.
