Fire on Friday evening engulfed Fresh FM, the Ibadan-based radio station owned by popular singer and broadcaster Yinka Ayefele, significantly damaging critical equipment and offices.
Gatekeepers News reports that the fire which broke out at the station’s head office in the Challenge area of Ibadan, affected two of its major studios, Fresh 105.9 FM and Blast 98.3 FM along with adjoining offices.
Facilities such as the newsroom, transmitter, and server room, as well as other essential broadcast equipment, were destroyed.
Eyewitnesses reported scenes of confusion as residents and staff attempted to contain the fire before the arrival of professional firefighters.
Efforts to use in-house fire extinguishers were unsuccessful due to the intensity of the flames, which spread quickly through the building.
Personnel from the Oyo State Fire Service eventually intervened, working with community members and passersby to control the situation.
While the immediate cause of the fire has not yet been determined, the station’s management confirmed that investigations are underway and that the extent of the losses is still being assessed.
The incident temporarily disrupted broadcast activities at the station, which is one of the most popular private radio networks in the southwest.
Samson Akindele, group head of corporate affairs of Fresh FM Nigeria and Yinka Ayefele Limited, in a statement, expressed gratitude to residents and emergency responders who assisted during the crisis, adding that plans would be put in place to restore full operations as quickly as possible.
