Fresh FM, Ibadan, owned by gospel singer Yinka Ayefele, has confirmed that its head office in Challenge, Ibadan was razed by fire on Friday night.
In a statement signed on Saturday by Samson Akindele, group head of corporate affairs for Fresh FM Nigeria and Yinka Ayefele Limited, the management said the fire destroyed studios of Fresh 105.9 and Blast 98.3, as well as offices like the newsroom and transmitter/server room.
“All efforts to fight the fire, before the arrival of the professional fire fighters, with our in-house fire extinguishers proved abortive because of the strength of the inferno,” the statement said.
The station added that it could not immediately determine the extent of the damage.
“We can’t immediately quantify the extent of the damage caused by the devastating inferno, the cause of which is also yet to be ascertained presently,” it noted.
Fresh FM thanked residents, passersby and officials of the Oyo State Fire Service who joined in containing the blaze.
“We heartily appreciate everyone good-spirited Nigerians who joined us in fighting the inferno. From the residents around our studio complex who were the first responders to passersby and the officials of the Oyo Fire Service, we appreciate everyone for their assistance during the emergency.”
Residents around the station complex were the first to respond before the Oyo State Fire Service arrived.
Media personality Samuel Arugboboisi was the first to raise the alarm on social media on Friday night, calling for urgent help.
“Fresh FM is currently on fire! We urgently need the Fire Service to respond immediately. Please spread the word and alert the nearest station,” he wrote.
The Oyo State Fire Service later confirmed its presence at the scene.
General manager of the agency, Rev. Akinyemi Akinyinka, assured that firefighters were working to control the situation, while the chairman, Maroof Akinwande, also confirmed their response.
The cause of the fire has not been identified and the extent of damage is still being assessed.
Fresh FM, which received its broadcasting licence in April 2015, began operations later that year.
It has since expanded to Abeokuta, Ado-Ekiti, Akure, Osogbo and Lagos.
