Shops, Goods Destroyed As Fire Razes Kwara Market

The popular Mandate Market, Adewole, Ilorin, Kwara State was yesterday gutted by fire that destroyed 24 shops and goods worth millions of Naira.

The 200- shop capacity market was gutted by fire at about 04:44hrs yesterday.

LEADERSHIP gathered the magnitude of destruction by the fire outbreak was due to the late call made to the State Fire Service.

It was gathered that the fire had already spread significantly before the firefighters arrived at the market.

The spokesperson of the State Fire Service, Hakeem Adekunle confirmed the incident.

He said that preliminary investigation revealed that the fire was caused by a power surge.

“The fire reportedly started in a shop where phone accessories were sold alongside a phone charging business, before spreading to nearby shops used for storing foodstuffs and other commodities.

“The gallant firefighters of the Kwara State Fire Service displayed exceptional courage and professionalism in combating the inferno and successfully averted further destruction across the market

Adekunle added that traders and market stakeholders at the scene commended the efforts of the fire fighters for their swift intervention and for preventing the fire from engulfing the entire market.