Early morning fire damages shop in Ilorin building

A pre-dawn fire has damaged part of a mixed-use building in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, destroying goods in one of several shops before emergency crews brought the situation under control.

The blaze broke out at about 4.56 a.m. on Sunday at No. 28 Ijoro Street, off Asa-Dam Road. The property consists of a two-bedroom flat alongside seven shops. Only one of the shops was affected.

The Kwara State Fire Service confirmed the incident in a statement issued by its Public Relations Officer, Hassan Adekunle.

“The incident involved a building comprising a two-bedroom flat and seven shops, out of which one shop was affected by the fire,” the statement said.

Firefighters arrived promptly and succeeded in containing the flames, preventing further spread to adjoining shops and the residential section of the building.

Items destroyed in the affected shop included grinding machines, foodstuffs and other valuables.

Preliminary findings by the agency pointed to a power surge as the likely cause, which ignited combustible materials within the shop.

Reacting to the incident, the Director of the Fire Service, Alabi Muhammed, advised residents and traders to prioritise electrical safety.

He urged the use of surge protectors, warned against overloading sockets and called for routine checks on electrical installations.

Muhammed also highlighted the need for accessible fire extinguishers to enable swift response at the early stage of any outbreak.

The Fire Service reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property across Kwara State.

The incident follows a string of recent fire outbreaks in Ilorin. In the past week, a vehicle was reportedly destroyed by fire at E-Phoenix Hotel in Ilorin South Local Government Area. In April, another shop in a multi-purpose building along Pakata Road in the Ita-Ogunbo area was also affected.