Panic in Ikeja as Inverter Explosion Rocks Building; Fire Destroys Shops in Ibadan

Panic and confusion swept through the Ikeja Under Bridge area of Lagos State on Friday evening when a sudden explosion erupted from a building, causing tremors and triggering mass hysteria among residents and commuters. The blast, which occurred around 6:30 p.m., has been traced to a solar inverter that unexpectedly exploded.

According to multiple eyewitnesses, the force of the explosion was strong enough to shake nearby structures and ignite fears of a more extensive disaster. People in the area were seen abandoning their vehicles and fleeing in all directions as smoke billowed from the scene.

“The explosion was caused by an inverter that blew up. The Lagos Fire and Rescue Service is already on the scene. There’s heavy traffic in the area, and people were seen running in panic,” said Rabiu Abass, a resident who witnessed the incident, while speaking with Vanguard.

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Inverter Explosion Sparks Alarm in Ikeja

The incident immediately prompted emergency response efforts, with the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service arriving swiftly to contain the situation. Director of the agency, Mrs. Margaret Adeseye, confirmed the incident and sought to calm public fears.

“There is no cause for alarm. The situation is under control,” Adeseye stated, emphasizing that the fire service team had swiftly mobilized to the affected site.

As of 8:30 p.m., firefighters were still at the scene, working diligently to extinguish the flames and assess the extent of the damage caused by the explosion. No casualties have been officially reported, and the exact cause of the inverter’s malfunction is still under investigation.

The incident caused significant traffic congestion in the area, with emergency responders urging motorists to seek alternative routes while containment efforts were ongoing.

Inferno in Ibadan Destroys 12 Shops, Millions Lost

While Lagos was grappling with the inverter explosion, another fire-related disaster struck Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. Late Thursday night, at least 12 shops were razed in a destructive inferno at the Araromi section of Agodi-Gate, dealing a heavy blow to local traders.

The fire reportedly broke out around 10:55 p.m. at Block A, No. 64, Mayegun Cement Store Market. It took over three hours for firefighters and local volunteers to douse the flames. The blaze consumed goods and materials worth millions of naira, leaving affected traders devastated.

Eyewitnesses said the fire originated near an area where flammable goods were stored, and it spread quickly due to an electrical surge that occurred just moments before.

“We just started seeing smoke and flames. Before we could react, the fire had engulfed several shops,” said one of the affected shop owners, struggling to hold back tears as he spoke to reporters.

Confirming the incident, the General Manager of the Oyo State Fire Service, Yemi Akinyinka, said the fire service received a distress call at exactly 11:02 p.m. and deployed emergency crews to the site.

“Our team responded immediately, and the fire was eventually brought under control after hours of intense effort. Thankfully, no lives were lost,” Akinyinka noted.

He further cautioned market traders and residents to adopt safer electrical practices and avoid storing flammable materials near power outlets or appliances. The incident has once again highlighted the vulnerability of Nigeria’s informal commercial spaces to fire outbreaks, often due to outdated electrical installations and lack of regulatory enforcement.

Authorities in both Lagos and Ibadan have pledged to launch thorough investigations into the causes of these incidents to prevent a recurrence. Meanwhile, affected residents and shop owners are counting their losses and calling for government support.

As these dual fire incidents dominate headlines, questions are being raised about the growing frequency of urban fire disasters in Nigeria and the urgent need for proactive safety measures.