Some aggrieved youth in Oyo state burnt down a fire station on Sunday over the inability of firefighters to put out an inferno at Oja Akesan, the main market in the central commercial area of Oyo town.
The cause of the inferno, said to have started around 2am, is yet to be ascertained.
As of the time this report was filed, Fadeyi Olugbenga, spokesman of the Oyo state police command, told TheCable that efforts were still being made to put out the fire.
He explained that those at the fire service that was destroyed were about 20 meters away from the market but could not contain the fire outbreak because their equipment were not functioning.
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Olugbenga said the police had to seek the intervention of the fire service in Ogbomosho who came at the time the fire had destroyed many shops, sparing only a few and one filling station.
Olugbenga said the police are still investigating if there were any casualties involved and the extent of damage and worth of goods lost in the incident.
“There was a fire incident in Akesan market this morning. The police as early as possible alerted the fire station. The only problem they were having was that they were complaining that their equipment was not working so they had to seek intervention from Ogbomosho,” Olugbenga said.
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“Irate youths, because of the impatience, decided to create bonfires on the roads and started to destroy properties. They destroyed part of the fire station in Oyo town.”
There are reports that the youth clashed with the police who in turn fired shots at them, killing three people.
Olugbenga, however, said the police fired no shots and that no live was lost.
According to him, some of the youth took made attempts to attack the police station while some took advantage of the situation to loot.
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“There was no shooting incident. The police did not shoot anybody dead contrary to reports in the media. They wanted to attack the police station. The police have been strategically positioned to avoid breakdown of law and order,” he said.
Some residents of the state have taken to social media to express their loss and displeasure.
Below are some reactions from Twitter:
This is really sad new to Begin the years,Mum's shop is gone……something needs to be done about #Oyostatefireservice# #AkesanmarketOyo# pls help retweet till it gets to Oyo state government pic.twitter.com/AP4Zfrjv7O
Advertisement— @_Maheezah (@MahisatObadara) January 5, 2020
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Properties worth over Million Naira lost to midnight fire (5th of January 2020) at main Akesan market, Oyo town in Oyo State. pic.twitter.com/JnUEuZjDHj
— Gbemi Dennis™ (@GbemiDennis) January 5, 2020
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Your Excellency @seyiamakinde Please explain to us why the fire service in Oyo is not working despite the fact that they're very close to the Market!! pic.twitter.com/TrygqBVFVT
Advertisement— Ogbeni Alaka (@Ogbeni_alaka) January 5, 2020
Fire outbreak in the early hours of today in Akesan Market, Oyo town. The fire station located with a 10metre radius of the market had no facilities to curtail the outbreak before it got out of hands.
Gov.@seyiamakinde SOS. Cc: @CACCOT1 @The_Seeker76 @TheViralTrendz pic.twitter.com/mInBis1EPf
— Omo Iya Kunmi (@Omoiyakunmi1) January 5, 2020
Akesan Market Oyo burning since 1am.. Pls let's be cautious, Climate change is real! pic.twitter.com/XxTgRasHa3
— Mayowa Olagunju ❁ (@iam_doctormayor) January 5, 2020
https://twitter.com/Iyanudaniel1/status/1213722343966679041
It’s really a trying time, a #BlackSunday in Oyo town.
Please let’s stay careful out there in this weather. pic.twitter.com/RthlNVn4hS
— Michael | Anuoluwapo (@its_mikkyanu) January 5, 2020
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