The Oyo State Government says it will raise a panel to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fire that engulfed the Sango Alaro Plank Market twice in three days.

This was made known to reporters by the Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy to the State Governor, Mr Yomi Layinka, when he led a delegation to the market.

He said: “We are here to examine the extent of damage and to know the causes of the fire incident. That is, the one that happened on Friday and the other that occurred in the early hours of today (Monday).

“While the representatives of the market operatives have alleged of some conspiracy in the fire incident that gutted the market, the government wants to assure all stakeholders that we shall thoroughly investigate the immediate and remote causes of the incidents to ensure that whoever is responsible is brought to justice.”

Mr Layinka appealed to the traders and members of the affected community to remain calm and shun any illegal act, adding that security operatives had been put on red alert to guard the market in order to prevent further losses.

The chairman of the market association, Mr Oladipo Faseyitan, said that while the first fire incident was caused by a gas explosion from a nearby building, the second one could have been caused by a group of people who claimed to be the land owners.

He explained that his members had for some time been having running battles with the land owners, who had told them to either vacate the community or face dire consequence.

Faseyitan, who said property worth hundreds of millions of naira had been lost to the inferno, called on the state government to assist the traders in mitigating the effect of the losses.

While briefing the government officials, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Sango Police Station, Mrs Joyce Maiyaki, said that the Police had been providing adequate security in the area just as she commended the Oyo State Fire Service for its prompt response in putting out the fire.

Some other dignitaries who also visited the scene were the Head of Service, Mr Soji Eniade, a former Secretary to the State Government, Mr Ismail Olalekan-Alli, a former Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, Dr. Gbade Ojo as well as a former Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Mr Segun Abolarinwa. (Channels TV)

•Photo shows Governor Ajimobi.