A midnight fire has destroyed or damaged 12 shops at a shopping complex around Mandate Market in Ilorin, Kwara State.
The incident occurred opposite Alkad Filling Station at about 1:14am on Saturday, with flames already engulfing the complex when firefighters arrived.
The shopping centre reportedly contains about 40 shops.
The spokesperson for the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, disclosed the incident in a statement made available to journalists in Ilorin.
According to him, the state fire service responded to the emergency with two fire trucks, while personnel from the Federal Fire Service later joined the operation.
He said the combined effort helped prevent the fire from spreading to other shops and surrounding 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 initial assessment pointed to a possible electrical power surge as the cause of the fire.
Adekunle explained that some people who were sleeping close to the complex reportedly heard a loud sound shortly after electricity was restored.
He, however, stressed that the exact cause could not yet be confirmed.
“The exact cause of the incident remains subject to further investigation,” he said.
The Chief Fire Officer, Alabi Muhammed, praised the firefighters and their Federal Fire Service counterparts for their swift response and cooperation.
Muhammed advised traders to ensure that their electrical wiring and installations were carried out by qualified professionals.
He also urged business owners to pay close attention to electrical appliances and power sources in their premises.
Emphasising the need for early emergency reporting, the chief fire officer said prompt calls to emergency responders could significantly reduce the extent of damage during fire outbreaks.
“Early notification gives firefighters a better opportunity to contain incidents before they escalate and cause extensive damage,” Muhammed said.
The latest incident occurred barely two days after another fire outbreak in Ilorin, which affected a residential building behind the Industrial Training Fund in the Asa-Dam area.
The Thursday incident reportedly damaged three bedrooms in a building containing three-bedroom flats and a room-and-parlour self-contained apartment.
The fire service said the blaze had gained considerable ground before its arrival but was eventually brought under control before it could spread to an adjoining block of apartments.
A power surge was also suspected in that incident, although officials said investigations were still ongoing to establish the definitive cause.
The fire service consequently reiterated its appeal to residents and business owners to routinely inspect their electrical systems, maintain installations properly and immediately contact emergency responders whenever a fire is detected.
