Victims of the fire that struck Alesinloye Market in Ibadan on Tuesday have corrected exaggerated media reports, stating that approximately 90 people were impacted, far fewer than the 500 claimed by some outlets. This clarification comes as the Oyo State Government instructed those affected to work with the Oyo State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) for an accurate count and verification of victims.
On Friday, Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal met with representatives of the Plastic and Cooler Sellers from the market, the group hardest hit by the blaze. He emphasized that the government would depend on the victims’ own figures since they are best positioned to identify one another. These details were outlined in a statement released that day by Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju, Special Adviser (Media) to Governor Seyi Makinde, and shared with journalists in Ibadan.
Lawal tasked Oyo SEMA with conducting a thorough enumeration and verification to establish a reliable tally, cautioning victims to be mindful of how they share information to avoid confusion. He assured them of the state’s support, noting that bulldozers were already clearing debris at the site to restore order. Lawal underscored the Makinde administration’s responsiveness, pledging collaboration with the victims to ease their burdens, and condemned those exploiting the tragedy for political gain as “unreasonable and unethical.”
He stated, “The Oyo State Government sympathizes with you… We’re thankful no lives were lost. Our focus, under Governor Makinde, is the wellbeing of our people, not hardship. This is a sad event, but we’ll address it together. Claims of 500 affected and over 700 shops are inaccurate—your figure of about 85 is what we’ll verify and rely on. SEMA will set up at the market to record victims’ details like phone numbers and shop numbers, ensuring aid reaches only those impacted.”
Addressing concerns about potential demolition, Lawal clarified that the immediate priority is managing the fire’s aftermath, with other matters to be handled later through dialogue with traders. Earlier, leaders of the Plastic and Cooler Section, including Chairperson Taiwo Lawal and former chair Julianah Ayoola, refuted the 500-victim narrative during their visit to the Governor’s Office. They expressed gratitude for the government’s concern, especially after the deputy governor’s visit calmed tensions, but urged against demolishing the market, requesting permission to rebuild their shops if redevelopment is planned.
Speaking to the press post-meeting, Mrs. Lawal said, “We’re pleading with the governor not to demolish our market. He visited two days ago and made promises, but then we saw bulldozers yesterday, so many of us slept there to guard it. We’ve already cleared over half the affected area today. The deputy governor explained the bulldozers are for cleanup, not demolition, and assured us of discussions involving the state, local governments, and traders about redevelopment.” The meeting included key officials like Commissioner for Trades and Commerce Adeniyi Adebisi and SEMA Director Ojuolape Busari.
