Ilorin Fire: Blaze Razes 12 Shops In Shopping Complex

A fire outbreak in Ilorin, Kwara State, has destroyed or damaged at least 12 shops after a shopping complex in the Mandate Market area was engulfed by flames in the early hours of Saturday.

According to Ireporter Online, the affected complex, located opposite Alkad Filling Station, contained about 40 shops. Firefighters reportedly arrived at the scene around 1:14am to find the building already heavily engulfed in flames.

The spokesperson for the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, said two fire appliances were immediately deployed after the emergency call was received, while personnel from the Federal Fire Service later joined the operation.

He explained that the coordinated response helped prevent the fire from spreading to other shops and surrounding properties. However, 12 shops were affected, with the extent of the damage attributed partly to the delay in reporting the incident.

Adekunle said preliminary findings suggested that a power surge may have triggered the fire. He added that residents sleeping near the complex reportedly heard a loud combustion sound shortly after electricity was restored.

The fire service, however, stressed that the exact cause of the incident would only be determined after a detailed investigation.

The Chief Fire Officer, Alabi Muhammed, commended personnel of both the Kwara State and Federal Fire Services for their swift response and cooperation in containing the blaze.

Muhammed urged traders and other business owners to ensure that electrical installations in their premises were carried out by qualified professionals. He also advised them to regularly inspect electrical appliances and power sources to reduce the likelihood of fire outbreaks.

He further appealed to residents to report emergencies immediately, noting that early notification gives firefighters a better chance of containing a fire before it spreads and causes more extensive damage.

The incident occurred barely two days after another fire outbreak was reported at a residential building behind the Industrial Training Fund in the Asa-Dam area of Ilorin.

The Thursday incident affected three bedrooms in a building comprising three-bedroom flats and a room-and-parlour self-contained apartment. Firefighters said the blaze had spread significantly before they arrived but was eventually brought under control before reaching the adjoining building.

A power surge was also suspected in that incident, although the Fire Service said investigations were ongoing to establish the definitive cause.

The Kwara State Fire Service has continued to urge residents and business owners to regularly inspect and maintain their electrical systems and contact emergency responders immediately whenever a fire is detected.