A fire has destroyed 12 shops at Mandate market in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

The Kwara State Fire Service spokesman, Hassan Hakeem, said in a statement on Saturday that the incident occurred around 01:14hrs at a shopping complex opposite Alkad filling station within the market area.

“The Fire Service received the distress call and turned out at 01:14hrs to the scene, where a shopping complex comprising approximately 40 shops was already engulfed in fire.

“Due to the intensity of the inferno and the potential for the fire to spread to adjoining shops and properties, the Kwara State Fire Service immediately deployed two fire appliances to effectively tackle the situation,” Mr Hakeem stated.

He noted that despite the prompt intervention of the firefighters, “12 shops were affected, largely due to the late notification of the incident. 

“However, 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,” Mr Hakeem added.

The service noted that preliminary information gathered at the scene indicated that the fire might have been caused by a power surge, adding some individuals who slept close to the affected area reported hearing a loud combustion sound shortly after electricity was restored.

Mr Hakeem said the exact cause of the incident was under investigation.

The Chief fire officer, Alabi Muhammed, commended the firefighters for their prompt response, courage and professionalism in confronting the inferno.

Mr Muhammed urged members of the public, particularly business owners, to always ensure that their electrical installations were carried out by qualified professionals and that electrical appliances and power sources were properly monitored.