Fresh FM Nigeria, the popular Ibadan-based radio station owned by veteran gospel singer Yinka Ayefele, has confirmed that a late-night fire incident on Friday destroyed its head office located at Challenge, Ibadan.
According to a statement released on Saturday by the Group Head of Corporate Affairs, Samson Akindele, the station described the outbreak as a “huge loss,” explaining that the blaze completely gutted the newsroom, studios, server room, and several vital broadcasting facilities.
The management disclosed that both Fresh 105.9 FM and Blast 98.3 FM were severely affected, with their studios and adjoining offices reduced to ruins. “We regret to announce that our corporate head office was engulfed by a terrible fire on Friday, August 15, 2025. In the process, the studios of Fresh 105.9 and Blast 98.3, alongside our newsroom, transmitter/server room, and essential broadcast equipment, were consumed while operations were ongoing,” the statement read.
It further explained that efforts by staff to put out the flames with in-house fire extinguishers before the arrival of fire fighters were unsuccessful. “The intensity of the inferno was overwhelming, making it impossible to contain. At this point, we cannot fully estimate the scale of the damage, and the cause of the fire is still unknown,” the statement added.
Despite the destruction, the management extended gratitude to nearby residents, passersby, and the Oyo State Fire Service for their prompt efforts in trying to minimize the damage.
Chronicles Reporters had earlier reported that social media users circulated videos of the building in flames on Friday night, showing staff members and residents scrambling in fear as the fire spread across the premises.
A staff of the station, identified as @Arugboboisi on X (formerly Twitter), confirmed the incident online while calling for immediate help from the Fire Service. “Fresh FM is currently on fire! We need urgent intervention. Please retweet, spread the word and alert the nearest fire station,” he posted.
In another update, he expressed grief over the incident, writing: “What a night.”
As at the time of this report, investigations into the cause of the fire were still ongoing, while the total value of destruction was yet to be determined.
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