Fire razes Alaafin's Palace in Oyo 

The royal palace of alafin of OyoOba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, on wednesnesday was gutted by fire.

reports say that not less than 21 rooms in the sprawling, ancient palace were gutted by the dawn inferno suspected to have emanated from electrical surge.


Eye witness accounts revealed that three apartments belonging to three of the Alaafin's wives were among the 21 rooms affected.

Even though no life was lost and nobody sustained injuries in the fire disaster, some of the affected apartments were said to have included the Ile Ori, Ile Ifa and other similar rooms housing valuable artefacts.

Our correspondent gathered that the Alaafin's wives (Ayabas) who suffered unquantifiable losses in the inferno were Princess Folasade (Iyaa Meta), Princess Rukayat, and Princess Abibat.  Sources said they were greatly affected as they lost virtually all their valuables into the fire.

Each of the apartments of the ayabas contained about five rooms, it was further gathered.

Commenting on the fire incident, the Alaafin's Media Assistant, Alhaji Azeez Fehintola, told newsmen that the extent of damage by the fire incident was unimaginable.

His words:  "It goes beyond my imagination. Immediately I got here and saw the extent of the damage done to the palace by this early morning conflagration, I could not but break down into tears. The fire, which broke out from electrical surge, started around 6 a.m and was contained after about three hours.

"The fire-fighters came at some minutes past seven and battled it till it was finally put out. Every part of the affected apartments were completely razed. It was a really sad day for the ayabas because many of their property were destroyed. They keep their monies in the palace. Plasma television, jewellery, clothes, bags and many other valuables yet to be ascertained.