No fewer than 12 shops have been affected by a fire outbreak at a shopping complex in the Mandate Market area of Ilorin, Kwara State.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday opposite Alkad Filling Station, with the fire reportedly breaking out at about 1:14 a.m.
The complex, which houses about 40 shops, was already engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived at the scene.
The spokesperson for the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, disclosed this in a statement made available in Ilorin.
Adekunle said the fire service deployed two fire appliances to the scene immediately after receiving the distress call, while personnel of the Federal Fire Service later joined the operation.
According to him, the joint effort prevented the fire from spreading to other shops and nearby properties.
“Despite the prompt intervention of the firefighters, 12 shops were affected, largely due to the late notification of the incident,” Adekunle said.
He said preliminary findings indicated that the fire might have been triggered by a power surge.
Adekunle explained that some people sleeping close to the shopping complex reportedly heard a loud combustion sound shortly after electricity was restored.
However, he noted that the exact cause of the fire remained subject to further investigation.
Fire Chief Urges Early Reporting
The Chief Fire Officer, Alabi Muhammed, commended the firefighters and their counterparts from the Federal Fire Service for their prompt response and collaboration in containing the blaze.
Muhammed urged business owners to ensure that electrical installations were carried out by qualified professionals and that electrical appliances and power sources were regularly monitored.
He also called on residents and business owners to report fire incidents immediately to enable emergency responders to act before the situation escalates.
“Early notification gives firefighters a better opportunity to contain incidents before they escalate and cause extensive damage,” he said.
Second Fire Incident in Two Days
The Mandate Market fire occurred two days after another fire outbreak affected a residential building behind the Industrial Training Fund in the Asa-Dam area of Ilorin.
The Thursday incident reportedly affected three bedrooms in a building comprising three-bedroom flats and a room-and-parlour self-contained apartment.
The Kwara State Fire Service said the fire had spread significantly before firefighters arrived but was eventually brought under control, preventing it from extending to an adjoining block of apartments.
A power surge was also suspected in the second incident, although the fire service said investigations were ongoing to establish the actual cause.
The service again advised residents and business owners to regularly inspect and maintain their electrical installations and immediately alert emergency responders whenever they notice a fire outbreak.
