A devastating fire outbreak occurred at the Alhaji Haruna Kannike Shopping Complex, Ipata Market, Ilorin, on Saturday, but swift intervention by the Kwara State Fire Service saved the day.
According to the Kwara Fire Service Spokesperson, PFO Hassan Hakeem Adekunle, in a statement made available to FACTUAL NAIJA NEWS in Ilorin today, the fire, which started at 13:10 hours, engulfed some rooms on the upper floor of the two-storey building, housing 25 shops and 44 rooms. However, the gallant firefighters contained the blaze, extinguished it completely, and prevented it from spreading to other parts of the market.
According to the Kwara State Fire Service, 22 rooms were affected, but 22 others and all 25 shops were successfully saved.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the fire was caused by a power surge that occurred shortly after electricity was restored by IBEDC, following a five-day power outage in parts of Ilorin.
The Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Prince Falade John, commended the bravery of his men and urged the public to adopt safety measures to prevent fire outbreaks. He emphasized the importance of unplugging electrical appliances when not in use.
It was further learnt that the successful operation was also made possible by the support of Federal Fire Service personnel, who joined forces with the Kwara State Fire Service to extinguish the inferno.
The incident highlights the importance of fire safety and prevention measures, particularly during periods of power outages and restorations.
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