Three separate fire ounbreaks within 72 hours at different locations in Ilorin, Kwara State left pains, confusion and anguish in their wakes.
The incident which occurred on Saturday and Monday destroyed property estimated at N75m.
The first fire outbreak occurred at the Federal Secretariat, Fate road, Ilorin in Saturday 11th February, 2023 at about 5pm; the second incident happened the same day at about 10.05 pm when a petroleum tanker caught fire at MM filling station, Sobi Specialist Hospital road, Alagbado, Ilorin while the third occurred at a residential building in Oko- Erin area – also in Ilorin.
Official information obtained from Kwara State Fire Service showed that property worth N56.8m were destroyed by the fire that razed MM filling station while the incident at Oko- Erin destroyed N18.2m property.
LEADERSHIP Weekend gathered that the fire outbreak at the Federal Secretariat was a result of a mechanical fault.
It was further gathered that prompt intervention of the men of Kwara State Fire Service saved the gigantic building from total destruction.
The spokesman of the state Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle who confirmed the incident put the estimated cost of property saved from the inferno as billion naira.
The late night fire outbreak at Alagbado threw residents of Alagbado , Okelele, Ayegbami, Dada and Oloje as well as adjoining communities into confusion.
Residents of the aforementioned, communities, had to abandon their houses and scampered to safety as the huge smoke from the fire suggested that the fire might reached their places.
The state governor, AbdulRahaman AbdulRazaq, visited the scene of the incident at about 11.45pm to assess the situation of things and commisserated with the victims and residents of the area.
The fire outbreak at Oko- Erin involved a 3- bedroom building and three shops. LEADERSHIP Weekend gathered that the incident was caused by power surge.
The spokesman of the state Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle confirmed the three fire incidents.
He said N18.2m property were lost to the Oko-Erin incident while N43.6m property were saved due to the quick intervention of the fire fighters.
Adekunle added:” On Monday 13th February, 2023. at about 03:24hrs fire gutted a building of about three bedrooms and three shops as a result of power surge.
“This incident took place at No.60 Beside Atoto Press Oko-Erin area, Ilorin, Ilorin West local government area of Kwara State.
“On getting to the scene , we realized that the whole building had been engulfed by the blazing fire due to the late call by the sympathizer.
“Although the conflagration was huge, however our firemen were able to demonstrate high level of professionalism and in no time the ravaging inferno was totally extinguished. They also damped the surrounding area in order to stop further fire escalation.
“The leading officer of the firemen crew who attended to the incident revealed that the fire was caused due to the power surge.”
On the fuel tanker explosion at MM filling station, Alagbado, Adekunle said :” On 11th February 2023, at about 22:05hrs, (10:05PM) men of the Kwara State Fire Service were summoned to a fire incident by Mr Kamaldeen. The incident occurred at M. M. Rodiat Nigeria Limited filling station along Sobi Specialist Hospital road, Ayegbami junction, Ilorin, Ilorin East local government, Kwara State.
“ Uponthe the brigade arrival at the scene of occurrence, the blazing fire had engulfed the whole tanker due to the terrible nature of the incident. However, firemen were able to put out the fire on time and also prevent the burning tanker from affecting the filling stations and buildings in the vicinity.
“Most importantly, no life was lost in the accident.Report says, the accident was caused due to the mechanical problem in the petrol tanker.”
On the fire outbreak at the Federal Secretariat, the Fire Service spokesman said :” The fire outbreak which was reported today (Saturday) by one Mrs Jostina who quickly summoned the brigade to the scene of occurrence at about 14:39hours, was subdued by the firepower of the fire crew which did not allow it spread beyond the seat of fire.
“The leading officer of the crew who attended the incident announced that they arrived promptly at the scene and they were able to limit the damage caused by the ravaging fire to a solar panel.
“The officer added that the cause of the fire incident was due to mechanical fault which led to overheating and caught fire.”
A victim of the fire outbreak at Oko-Erin, Mrs Bukola Benjamin said she lost N5m worth of goods and property to the incident.
She called on the government and other well meaning Nigerians to come to her aid as the shops were her only means of livelihood.
Another victim at Alagbado also called for government assistance as fire consumed all the property in her private residence located beside MM filling station.
The State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq commiserated with residents of Alagbado on the late night fire outbreak at a petroleum station.
Driving himself alongside two security operatives, the governor was one of the earliest sympathisers to arrive at the site as news emerged of the explosion around 10p.m. local time on Saturday.
He arrived shortly after the state firefighters had put out the inferno, calling for calm and commending the operatives for their prompt response and professionalism.
“Our hearts are with the occupiers of the lone house that got burnt and owners of the petrol station from where the fire started. We share in their pains and losses at this time,” the governor said in a statement signed by his chief press secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye.
“Similarly, I commend operatives of the state fire service who responded quickly to the distress calls and were able to curtail and minimise the impacts of the fire. We are truly proud of what they did, and will continue to support them as we have been doing over the last three years.
Late Night Fire Consumes N56.8m Property In Kwara
“We thank Almighty God for His mercies, especially that no life was lost in the unfortunate incident. Regardless, the incident (just like avoidable flooding and some other occurrences often caused by poor planning) again justifies our administration’s decision to draw up a new master plan for the state, beginning from the capital city. It is in our enlightened interest as a people to live sustainably to avoid unintended harm to ourselves. Once again, we send our sympathies to the victims and pray to God to grant them comfort,” the governor added.
The people of the affected communities praised the governor for an uncommon show of love through his visit to the scene of the incident at that odd hour in the night.
The Ibagun Progressive Union ( IPU) cancelled its scheduled meeting with the business committee because of the fire incident at MM filling station.
The chairman of IPU, Alh Kuranga Omomeji Morogun, who led other members of the union on a sympathy visits to the victims said:” The postponement of the business meeting is borne out of the fire incident that engulfed the MM filling stations at Alagbado. IPU sympathises wt the proprietor and management of the MM filling station and residents of Ayegbami and Alagbado communities.”
He commended the governor for his visit to the scene of the incident and for sharing from the pains of the victims and the traumatized residents.
A veteran journalist,Alh Hameed Adio commented:” To God be the glory for the safety of lives and many thanks to Governor AbdulRazaq for his prompt response to the plight of his people A classic demonstration of good leadership, a show of compassion, empathy and a heart of gold. No wonder the thunderous show of uncommon appreciation and love by the crowd on sighting the governor who visited the scene of the incident that late in the night.
The Special Adviser on Strategy to Kwara State governor,Alh Saadu Salahu, whose private residence is located behind the burning filling station, expressed his appreciation to the state government and the firemen for their prompt interventions.
Salahu, whose family were evacuated by neighbours thanked the security operatives and his private guard for their prompt responses.
He equally thanked the people of the adjoining communities, family, friends and relations for their concerns and show of love while the nightmare lasted.
The Special Adviser noted that were it not for the prompt intervention of the state government and the gallant firemen, the fire outbreak would have wreak havoc of unimaginable proportion.
Above all, Salahu thanked Allah for ensuring the safety of lives of the people in the neighborhood and his own family members as his residence is situated directly behind the burning filling station.
uncommon appreciation and love by the crowd on sitting the Governor who visited the scene of the incident that late in the night.
Meanwhile, the owner of the shops burnt down, Mrs Bukola Benjamin said the goods and property lost in the inferno would amount to about five million Naira.
She called on the government and other well meaning Nigerians to come to her aid as the shops were her only means of livelihood.
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