Following a devastating fire that engulfed the popular Akesan market in Oyo State during the early hours of Sunday, an angry mob in the ancient town of Akesan took out their frustrations on a local fire station.
Akesan market is renowned for its wide range of offerings including food items, local artifacts, clothing materials, and household utensils. The fire resulted in the destruction of goods and valuables worth millions of Naira.
According to eyewitnesses, the inferno started around 12:30 am. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be confirmed, but some individuals speculated that it may have been sparked by an electrical issue.
Despite fervent efforts to extinguish the fire, traders were left devastated as it continued to rage. Reports indicated that the firefighters from Oyo were unable to reach the scene due to faulty equipment, despite the market being just 20 meters away from the fire station.
After being informed that the fire truck had no water, traders, many of whom had borrowed from microfinance banks, pleaded for assistance. When the enraged mob received this news, they resorted to setting fire to the fire station and its property in protest.
Additional firefighters from Ibadan, with support from Ogbomoso, eventually arrived at the scene to battle the inferno.
A community leader present at the scene called on the government to reconstruct the market and provide support to the affected traders in the form of interest-free loans.
