No fewer than 22 rooms were destroyed in a fire outbreak which occurred on Saturday afternoon at Alhaji Haruna Kannike Shopping Complex, Ipata, Ilorin, in Ilorin East local government area of Kwara State.
The fire outbreak, which started at about 3 pm, affected the shopping complex comprising 44 rooms and 25 shops, according to The PUNCH.
According to eyewitness accounts, household items, including beds, beddings, furniture, electronics and cooking utensils, were destroyed in the inferno.
The fire was reportedly caused by a power surge, which occurred after power restoration in the area after about one week of total darkness in the area.
The State Fire Service, which confirmed the incident in a statement signed by the head of Media and Publicity, Hassan Adekunle, said that about 22 rooms were completely destroyed in the fire incident.
“On Saturday, 14th December 2024, at 13:10 hours, the Kwara State Fire Service responded promptly to a distress call reporting a fire outbreak at Alhaji Haruna Kannike Shopping Complex, Ipata Market, Ilorin, Kwara State.
“A fire truck and crew arrived swiftly at the scene to combat the blaze in the two-storey building housing 25 shops and 44 rooms. Upon arrival, the fire had already engulfed some rooms on the upper floor.
Adekunle said that both the state Fire Service and the Federal Fire Service combined to put off the fire to curtail its spread to adjoining buildings.
