Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde has commiserated with the victims of the fire outbreak at Oja Akesan market in Oyo town and promised to investigate cause of the incident.
Reacting through his official Facebook account, Makinde said he received the shocking news of the fire outbreak and appealed for calm.
According to him: “I received with shock, the news of the fire outbreak at Oja Akesan in Oyo Town, in the early hours of this morning. Words cannot convey my deep sadness at this incident and I sympathise with the victims. I appeal for calm as we investigate the circumstances around the unfortunate incident.”
It was gathered that the inferno consumed almost the entire market as a result of poor response from the fire service stationed opposite the market.
The fire started around 2 a.m. However, the fire service, whose station is just opposite the market or some 20 metres away, could not respond. People who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES as the fire was raging said the firefighters complained their equipment was not functioning.
“We condemn this failure of governance service but we will respond more appropriately on this later,” Oyo Global Forum, a civic group of Oyo indigenes, said.