Good worth millions of Naira were destroyed in a fire disaster on Saturday at the Mandate Shopping Complex in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
The fire incident occurred in the early hours of the day at the shopping complex located opposite Alkad Filling Station, within the Mandate Market axis of Ilorin.
The spokesman of the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, said the shopping complex has about 40 shops.
“Due to the intensity of the inferno and the potential for the fire to spread to adjoining shops and properties, the state fire service immediately deployed two fire appliances to effectively tackle the situation,” he said.
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According to him, the firefighting operation was further strengthened by the arrival of personnel from the Federal Fire Service, who joined the state fire service in a coordinated effort to contain and extinguish the raging fire.
Adekunle, however, disclosed that despite the prompt intervention of the firefighters, 12 shops were affected, largely due to the late notification of the incident.
The combined efforts of the two fire services prevented the fire from causing further damage to the remaining portions of the shopping complex and surrounding properties.
Preliminary information gathered at the scene indicated that the fire may have been caused by a power surge.
Some individuals who slept close to the affected area reported hearing a loud sound shortly after electricity was restored.
The exact cause of the incident remains subject to further investigation.
Chief Fire Officer, CFO, Alabi Muhammed, commended the Kwara firefighters for their prompt response, courage and professionalism in confronting the fire, as well as the Federal Fire Service for its timely support and collaboration.
He urged members of the public, particularly business owners, to always ensure that their electrical installations are carried out by qualified professionals and that electrical appliances and power sources are properly monitored.
Muhammed further emphasized the importance of immediate reporting of fire emergencies, noting that early notification gives firefighters a better opportunity to contain incidents before they escalate and cause extensive damage.
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