Parts of an OPay office located along the bustling Akala Expressway in Ibadan, Oyo State, were gutted by fire on Tuesday.

The incident destroyed property estimated at millions of naira.

It sparked widespread panic among residents, motorists, and operators of nearby businesses.

The blaze erupted in the afternoon.

Thick smoke and flames billowed from sections of the fintech company’s premises.

The sight attracted a large crowd of onlookers.

Eyewitnesses said the fire began suddenly and spread rapidly before emergency responders arrived.

Some residents initially mistook the smoke for generator fumes.

They later realised the building was ablaze.

“As soon as people noticed the smoke, there was shouting and everyone started running,” an eyewitness said. “Within minutes, the fire intensified and fear gripped the area.”

Workers in neighbouring offices raised the alarm.

This prompted firefighters from the Oyo State Fire Services Agency to rush to the scene.

The firefighting team eventually brought the fire under control.

They prevented it from spreading to adjacent shops and offices.

Security personnel were deployed to cordon off the area.

They also managed traffic, as movement along the expressway faced temporary disruption during the operation.

The cause of the fire has not been officially confirmed.

Authorities confirmed that no lives were lost.

Reports showed no serious injuries occurred.

Staff had evacuated the building before the fire escalated.

The inferno caused significant damage.

It destroyed office equipment, furniture, documents, and other valuables.

Some employees salvaged items from the building after the fire was extinguished.

Fire Service officials confirmed that investigations are underway.

The probe aims to determine the cause and assess the total extent of the damage.

They assured that recommendations would be made to prevent future occurrences.

OPay is expected to release an official statement on the incident.

The company will outline steps to maintain uninterrupted service for customers in Ibadan and across Oyo State.

Residents and business operators in the area urged authorities to enforce stricter fire safety measures.

They called for regular inspections of commercial buildings, especially those along major highways.