Alleged motorpark fire: Osun Police warn against spread of fake news

The Osun State Police Command has warned against the spread of “false information” about alleged fire incident in motor parks in the state, stressing that those responsible for disseminating misleading reports could face prosecution under the Cybercrime Act.

This warning was issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, during an on the spot assessment of the affected motor parks within Osogbo, the state capital, on Thursday.

The clarification followed claims circulated on Wednesday suggesting that major motor parks in the state capital had been destroyed by fire, a development which prompted concerns among residents, travellers and the Osun State Police Command.

Reacting to the reports, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Osun State Police Command, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, said officers visited the parks after a national television station broadcast claims that some parks in Osun, especially in Osogbo, had been set ablaze.

“We have gone round the parks and observed that there is nothing of such. As you can see, there is no sign of fire anywhere, not to talk of setting a whole park ablaze,” Ojelabi said.

He added that residents, travellers and commuters were carrying on with their lawful activities peacefully across the state.

The police spokesperson urged transport workers to remain peaceful and resolve any grievances through appropriate authorities, stressing that both Nigerian laws and park management regulations provide established channels for addressing disputes.

Meanwhile, at the Stadium Motor Park in Osogbo, a vulcaniser, Olawale Olagunju, said there had been no fire incident or unrest throughout the week.

“I have been at the park all through the week and there is no sign of setting any part of the park on fire. There was also no chaos in this motor park,” Olagunju said.

He explained that the park remains busiest in the mornings because it serves travellers heading to Abuja, Kaduna and Kano, adding that activities naturally reduce from the afternoon until the following morning.

Also speaking, a vehicle tyre trader at the Stadium Motor Park, Agboola Moshood Opeyemi, dismissed the reports, saying, “There has been no problem at the park since Monday. No part of the Stadium Motor Park was set on fire.”

At the Aregbe Motor Park, along Gbongan-Ibadan road, Osogbo, a soft drink vendor, Oluwatoyin Osunkunle also denied any incident, stating that normal activities were ongoing.

“I can assure you that nothing happened here and there is all-round peace,” Osunkunle said.

Similarly, a trader at the Old Garage Motor Park, Ojurin, Osogbo, Adeyinka Adebayo, said business activities had continued without disruption despite a protest that occurred at the park on Monday.

“I did not notice any fire. Business has been moving normally without any crisis and no recorded fire incident. Though there was a protest here at Old Garage, it was settled by the Nigerian Police,” Adebayo said.

Alleged motorpark fire: Osun Police warn against spread of fake news