A popular Nigerian luxury car dealer known as Moses Benz (Mosesbenz) says he has lost his collection of high-end vehicles, worth billions of naira, after fire swept through his car lot in what he suspects was an arson attack. The incident happened in Ibadan, Oyo State, and videos of the burnt cars have gone viral this week.
Several viral posts said the fire happened in Lagos. However, reports by Instablog9ja and Intelregion place the incident in Ibadan.
What Happened
According to reports, an unknown person allegedly broke into the premises overnight and set the vehicles ablaze. By morning, the lot had been reduced to rows of charred metal.
The dealer said in a post shared widely online that more than eight Mercedes-Benz GLEs and several other exotic cars had been burnt to ashes. Other reports listed a Mercedes-Benz GLC 43 and several BMWs among the vehicles destroyed. He has not given an exact figure for his losses but described them as worth “billions.”
Videos circulating on Instagram and X show the burnt-out shells of luxury SUVs and saloon cars, with melted bumpers, shattered windows and ash covering the ground.
“I Don’t Know Where to Start From”
In emotional posts after the fire, the dealer said he was devastated and did not know what he had done to deserve such a loss. He noted that it came just days before his birthday.
Some viral posts claim the dealer collapsed and was rushed to hospital after seeing the damage. NewsclickNG reported that he collapsed on seeing the extent of the destruction. Flashinfong could not independently confirm whether he was hospitalised.
No Official Word Yet on the Cause
As of Saturday, neither the Oyo State Police Command nor the state fire service had issued a public statement on the incident. It is not known whether a formal investigation has been opened or whether anyone has been arrested. The claim that the fire was started deliberately has not been officially confirmed.
Many Nigerians on social media have expressed sympathy for the dealer and called on the police to investigate. Others have asked whether the vehicles were insured, a common concern in Nigeria, where many small and medium-sized businesses operate without adequate insurance cover.
A Costly Blow in a Tough Market
The loss comes at a difficult time for Nigeria’s car import business. A weaker naira, high import duties and rising shipping costs have pushed the price of foreign-used and brand-new luxury vehicles far beyond what they were a few years ago. With a single late-model Mercedes-Benz GLE now selling for well over a hundred million naira, a lot holding several of them can quickly be worth billions.
Fires at car lots, markets and warehouses are a recurring problem in Nigeria. They are often blamed on electrical faults, poor fire safety, or, as in this case, alleged foul play.
Lessons for Dealers and Business Owners
Incidents like this are a reminder of how exposed many Nigerian businesses are. Fire safety experts generally advise dealers and warehouse owners to:
- Insure their stock with a reputable insurer.
- Install CCTV cameras with off-site or cloud backup, so footage survives a fire.
- Employ trained night security and fit proper lighting around their premises.
- Keep working fire extinguishers on site.
- Avoid parking vehicles too close together, so a fire cannot spread quickly from one car to the next.
Where arson is suspected, a quick report to the police and the fire service also helps preserve evidence for any investigation and insurance claim.
What Next
Flashinfong will update this story when the police or fire service release details on the cause of the fire and the investigation.
Sources: Instablog9ja, Intelregion, NewsclickNG, Gboah, Ladun Liadi News.