Fire razed Alafin's Palace

The ancient Oyo town was on Wednesday thrown into confusion as about 21 rooms in the Palace of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, were razed by fire.

It was learnt that the fire was caused by electrical surge in one of the rooms.

Three apartments occupied by the Alaafin’s wives and the rooms – Ile Ori and Ile Ifa -  where artifacts were kept were affected.

However, no life was lost and nobody sustained injury.

The monarch’s wives and princesses Folasade (a.k.a Iyaa Meta), Rukayat and Abibat lamented that they lost all their valuables to the inferno.

Alaafin’s Media Assistant, Alhaji Azeez Fehintola, said, “The extent of the damage is beyond my imagination. I broke down in tears when I saw the havoc. The fire outbreak was caused by electrical surge, it started around 6am and lasted three hours.

“The fire-fighters came at some minutes past seven. The apartments were completely razed.”

When contacted on the telephone, the Police Public Relations Officer, Oyo State Command, Mr. Ayodele Lanade, said he was on his way to Abuja and could not  react because he was driving.

Meanwhile, Oyo State  Governor Abiola Ajimobi, lamented the fire that wreaked havoc in Alaafin’s palace.

He said the fire destroyed artefacts, ornaments and traditional relics of the people of Yorubaland.

He made this known in a statement on Wednesday after paying a visit to the monarch in Oyo.

He said, “It is in our own definition, a disaster, more so, having gone round the whole palace on inspection of the damage. The fire touched virtually everywhere and it was very devastating. It consumed virtually everything, including traditional attires, ornaments.

“The lesson here is that, one, our fire support services should be more efficient. Second, the reactions of the Kabiyesi and the entire family were very commendable and immediate. That they were able to put out the fire is commendable.

“As a government, we are going to support the Kabiyesi and the Kabiyesi, as you know, has been at the forefront of support for the present administration.”