An early morning inferno caused by a power surge has razed a building of three-bedroom flats and three shops in the Oko-Erin area of Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara.

A statement from the spokesperson of Kwara Fire Service, Hakeem Hassan, said the incident occurred at about 3:24 a.m. at No. 60, beside the Atoto Press Oko-Erin area.

“On getting to the scene, we realised that the whole building had been engulfed by the blazing fire due to the late call by the sympathiser.

“Although the conflagration was huge, our firemen were able to demonstrate a high level of professionalism, and in no time, the ravaging inferno was totally extinguished.

“The leading officer of the firemen crew who attended to the incident revealed that the fire was caused due to the power surge,” the statement read.

It further quoted the director of Kwara Fire Service, Falade Olumuyiwa, urging the citizens to cultivate the habit of switching off their electrical appliances even before bedtime.

According to him, this will help them to prevent the chances of fire outbreaks in their various homes.

Meanwhile, the owner of the burnt shops, Bukola Benjamin, said the goods and property lost in the inferno would amount to about N5 million.

She called on the government and other well-meaning Nigerians to come to her aid, as the shops were her only means of livelihood. 

(NAN)