ILORIN, Kwara State — At least 12 shops have been damaged after a fire broke out at a shopping complex in the Mandate Market area of Ilorin, Kwara State, in the early hours of Saturday.
The affected complex, located opposite Alkad Filling Station, reportedly houses about 40 shops. Firefighters arrived at the scene at approximately 1:14 a.m. to find the building already engulfed in flames.
The spokesperson for the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, disclosed this in a statement made available to The Punch in Ilorin.
Adekunle said the state fire service immediately deployed two fire appliances after receiving a distress call, while personnel from the Federal Fire Service later joined the operation.
According to him, the combined efforts of the firefighters prevented the blaze 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 noted that preliminary findings suggested that a power surge might have triggered the fire.
Adekunle explained that some individuals sleeping near the shopping complex reportedly heard a loud combustion sound shortly after electricity was restored.
He, however, stressed that the exact cause of the incident would only be established after further investigation.
The Chief Fire Officer, Alabi Muhammed, commended personnel of both the Kwara State Fire Service and the Federal Fire Service for their swift response and collaboration in containing the fire.
Muhammed urged business owners to ensure that their electrical installations were carried out and maintained by qualified professionals.
He also advised residents and business owners to regularly monitor their electrical appliances and power sources to minimise the risk of fire outbreaks.
The Chief Fire Officer further appealed to members of the public to report fire incidents immediately after they are noticed, stressing that early notification gives firefighters a better chance of containing fires before they escalate.
The Mandate Market 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.
The Fire Service said the blaze had spread considerably before firefighters arrived but was eventually brought under control before it could extend to the adjoining building.
A power surge was also suspected as the cause of that incident, although the Fire Service said investigations were ongoing to determine the exact cause.
The Fire Service has once again advised residents and business owners to regularly inspect and maintain their electrical installations and promptly contact emergency responders whenever they notice a fire outbreak.
