Fire Guts 12 Shops In Ilorin Shopping Complex
* Property Worth Millions Of Naira Destroyed
Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
Property worth millions of Naira have been lost following an inferno that gutted 12 shops at a Shopping Complex in the Mandate Market area of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, in the early hours of Saturday.
The Kwara State Fire Service said its personnel, supported by the Federal Fire Service, successfully contained the fire and prevented it from spreading to other parts of the shopping complex and adjoining properties.
The incident occurred at a Shopping Complex opposite Alkad Filling Station, where about 40 shops are located.
According to the State Fire Service, a distress call was received by the Service, but before firefighters arrived at the scene at about 1:14am, the complex had already been heavily engulfed in flames, adding that the Fire Service immediately deployed two fire appliances in combating the inferno, while personnel of the Federal Fire Service later joined in the operation.
Despite the intervention of the firefighters, 12 shops were affected, which the Service attributed largely to the late notification of the fire outbreak.
The Public Relations Officer and Head of the Media Unit of the Kwara State Fire Service, PFO Hassan Hakeem Adekunle, said the combined efforts of both agencies prevented the fire from causing more extensive damage.
He said: “Despite the prompt intervention of the firefighters, 12 shops were affected, largely due to the late notification of the incident.”
Preliminary findings at the scene suggested that the fire might have been triggered by a power surge. Some people, who reside close to the affected area, were said to have heard a loud combustion sound shortly after electricity was restored.
However, the Fire Service said the exact cause of the incident has not been established, adding that further investigations would be required.
The Chief Fire Officer, CFS Alabi Muhammed, commended the firefighters for their prompt response, courage and professionalism during the operation, while also appreciating the Federal Fire Service for its timely support.
He urged business owners and residents to ensure that electrical installations were handled by qualified professionals and that electrical appliances and power sources were properly monitored.
Alabi also stressed the importance of promptly reporting fire incidents, saying early notification could give firefighters a better chance of containing emergencies before they escalate.
The Fire Service reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property across the State, urging residents to make fire safety a collective responsibility.
