Some yet to be identified hoodlums, on Saturday, under the pretense of reprisal attack on a rival group, looted about 15 shops at Agbeni Ologede market in Ibadan and eventually set them ablaze.
The incident which occurred at about 6:00 AM this morning, caused pandemonium around the Agbeni market and its environment as a result of a gun duel and exchange of fire between the personnel of Operation burst and the criminal elements.
The Deputy Director, Oyo State Fire Service,
Mr. Moshood Adewuyi, who confirmed the unfortunate incident in a chat with Oto Affairs correspondent, disclosed that the Oyo state fire service trucks taken to the scene of the incident to put out the fire were attacked by the hoodlums, while the firefighters sent on the peace-keeping assignment were stoned off the area.
He added that the timely intervention of the officers and men of the operation burst later brought normalcy to the area, noting that only 10 shops were identified to have been razed while others were burnt beyond recognition.
According to Oyo Affairs correspondent, two persons have been arrested in connection with the arson.