By Ghazali Ibrahim
A fire outbreak has destroyed 12 shops at a shopping complex in the Mandate Market area of Ilorin, Kwara State.
The incident occurred around 1:14am on Saturday, opposite Alkad Filling Station, with the complex, which houses about 40 shops, already engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived.
The spokesperson for the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, said two fire appliances were deployed after the distress call, while personnel from the Federal Fire Service later joined the operation.
Adekunle attributed the extent of the damage largely to the late notification of the incident, saying preliminary findings suggested that a power surge may have triggered the fire.
He said residents sleeping near the complex reported hearing a loud combustion sound shortly after electricity was restored, although the exact cause remained under investigation.
The Chief Fire Officer, Alabi Muhammed, commended the firefighters and Federal Fire Service personnel for containing the blaze and preventing it from spreading to nearby properties.
The incident came two days after another fire outbreak in the Asa-Dam area of Ilorin affected three bedrooms in a residential building.
The Fire Service urged residents and business owners to regularly inspect electrical installations, use qualified professionals for electrical work and report fire outbreaks promptly.
