A major fire outbreak on Sunday morning gutted parts of the Ogun-Guangdong Free Trade Zone (OGFTZ) in Igbesa, Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area, sending thick smoke into the sky and spreading quickly from an industrial facility to nearby residential buildings before emergency teams could fully contain the inferno.
The blaze, which ignited around early hours of the day, is believed to have started with a gas explosion within a foam-producing company located inside the industrial park, according to residents and eyewitness reports. The explosion triggered fear among workers, students and residents in adjacent communities, many of whom fled the scene as the fire rapidly engulfed structures.
Eyewitnesses said the outbreak began around dawn, with a sudden loud bang followed by thick plumes of black smoke rising above the industrial zone. Video footage circulating on social media showed flames consuming parts of the factory complex and extending into some adjoining homes before firefighters were fully engaged.
A student living near the Free Trade Zone told journalists that the explosion shook buildings in the vicinity, prompting swift evacuation of hostels and nearby houses. “It started with a loud boom, and then we saw smoke and fire spreading,” the witness said, adding that many residents were jolted awake and rushed to safety.
Confirming the incident, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, the Public Relations Officer of the Ogun State Police Command, said that operatives were promptly deployed to the scene after receiving a distress call. In a statement posted on social media platform X, he noted that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Igbesa Division was actively overseeing security arrangements.
“Operatives of the Ogun State Police Command have been on ground at the Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone, Igbesa, since a distress call was received over the ongoing fire incident,” Babaseyi wrote.
“The DPO…is overseeing the situation, while police operatives maintain security as the fire service engages the fire, which has since been contained. Members of the public are advised to remain calm and avoid the vicinity.”
Firefighters from Agbara and Ota stations were reported to have arrived to battle the blaze, and authorities say the fire has largely been brought under control, although full extinguishment and assessment were ongoing at the time of reporting.
The fire’s swift spread into residential areas triggered panic and dislocation, with several homes in the host community sustaining damage before firefighting crews arrived. While there was no official confirmation of casualties or injuries as of the latest reports, sources at the scene described “chaotic scenes” and residents quickly evacuating the vicinity as smoke and flames intensified.
Some students at a nearby institute also confirmed the disruption, saying they were forced to gather belongings and seek safer ground as the fire erupted close to student hostels. Emergency advisories urged residents in surrounding neighbourhoods to remain calm and withhold unnecessary movement toward the affected area.
In his update, the police spokesman stressed that security and emergency operations would continue, and members of the public should stay clear of the site for their own safety. With investigations into the exact cause of the explosion and extent of losses underway, authorities have yet to disclose any figures on property damage or confirm if displaced individuals are being assisted.
The incident raises renewed concerns about industrial safety standards and emergency readiness within key economic zones, especially where residential communities exist close to heavy-industrial operations.
