Fire Breaks Out at OGFTZ Mattress Section
A fire outbreak occurred on Sunday morning at the mattress section of the Ogun–Guangdong Free Trade Zone (OGFTZ) in Igbesa, Ogun State, throwing the area into panic and forcing students in nearby hostels to flee temporarily.
The fire reportedly started around 8 a.m. and was triggered by a gas explosion at a foam-producing company operating within the industrial park.
Students Flee as Thick Smoke Covers Obanla Axis
The incident caused fear among students living around the Obanla axis, particularly those of the Ogun State Institute of Technology (OGITECH), Igbesa, whose hostels are located close to the industrial zone.
Videos obtained from the scene showed thick black smoke rising into the sky, as students hurriedly ran out of their hostels with bags, unsure of how far the fire might spread.
Eyewitness Recounts Loud Explosion
An eyewitness, Kuwhede Vincent, a student of OGITECH, described the moment the fire started.
“It started around 8 a.m. in the morning. We first saw smoke, then fire coming from the company. There was a loud noise before the smoke,” he said.
Vincent added that although the company is very close to his hostel, no student hostel was affected.
“We just carried our bags because we don’t know what can happen next,” he said.
Firefighters Move In to Contain the Blaze
Fire service officials were quickly deployed to the scene and were seen battling the flames to prevent the fire from spreading further within the industrial park.
As of the time of filing this report, no casualties have been confirmed, and damage assessment is still ongoing.
OGITECH SUG Urges Calm, Issues Safety Advisory
Reacting to the incident, the Student Union Government (SUG) of OGITECH called for calm among students.
In a statement signed by Secretary Moses Josephine and Public Relations Officer Segbetin Sunday, the SUG urged students, especially those around Obanla, to remain vigilant and adhere to safety precautions.
Part of the statement read:
“The attention of the Students’ Union Government has been drawn to information regarding a fire outbreak at the Ogun–Guangdong Free Trade Zone (OGFTZ), Igbesa, which is in close proximity to some student hostels around the Obanla axis.”
The union advised students to:
Avoid unnecessary movement towards the affected area
Stay indoors where it is safe to do so
Keep doors and windows closed if smoke persists
Switch off electrical appliances and gas sources as a precaution
Government Yet to Issue Official Cause
As of the time of reporting, no official statement has been released confirming the exact cause of the fire.
However, when contacted, the Commissioner for Environment in Ogun State, Ola Oresanya, acknowledged the report, saying:
“Thanks for the information, I will work on it immediately.”
Situation Still Developing
