At least 25 shops were destroyed in a devastating fire that gutted a building early Saturday morning in Ilorin, Kwara State.
The incident, which occurred around 2:39 AM near the Adeta Roundabout, saw the affected shops engulfed in flames before firefighters arrived on the scene.
Hassan Adekunle, spokesman for the Kwara State Fire Service, confirmed that the blaze consumed a block of approximately 25 shops. However, due to the quick intervention of the fire service, only three shops were fully damaged, including one that sold soft drinks and alcohol.
“Thanks to the swift action and bravery of the Kwara State Fire Service officers, only minimal damage was reported. Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire was caused by a power surge,” Adekunle said in a statement.
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Prince John Falade Olumuyiwa, Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, extended his condolences to the affected shop owners and offered prayers for the restoration of their losses.
He also took the opportunity to advise the public on the importance of electrical safety, urging that all electrical appliances be unplugged when not in use.
This fire follows a similar incident in Lagos last week, where a fire at Ajah Market near Alesh Bus Stop caused significant property damage, though no casualties were reported.
Efforts to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby buildings were praised by officials, with the cause still under investigation.
