Fire Guts Oba Market in Benin Again as Solar Panel Sparks Blaze

A late-night fire on Wednesday destroyed part of the Oba Market in Benin City, Edo State, barely five years after a similar incident ravaged the popular trading centre.

Chairman of Oredo Local Government Area, Engr. Gabriel Iduseri, confirmed the incident, attributing the fire to a solar panel malfunction.

Eyewitnesses said the fire started from a section of the market where reconstruction work was still ongoing. They reported seeing smoke before raising an alarm, prompting traders, local vigilantes, and security officers to rush to the scene.

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Oba Market Police Station reportedly coordinated first responders and alerted the fire service, which worked with civilians to contain the flames after about three hours of intense firefighting.

After inspecting the scene, Engr. Iduseri disclosed that only one shop was affected, crediting the swift action of firefighters and security personnel for preventing a major disaster.

“We learnt that a solar panel caused the fire. We have suspended further installations and will conduct a thorough inspection of all electrical connections in the market to prevent a recurrence,” he said.

Iduseri also assured affected traders of government support to help them resume their businesses.

“Thankfully, no lives were lost, and the damage was minimal. The Oredo Local Government was fully on ground to prevent any case of looting,” he added.

This marks the second time in five years that the historic Oba Market has suffered a fire outbreak, sparking renewed calls for stricter safety measures and modernized energy installations in public markets.