A devastating fire broke out on Friday night at Olusola Saraki Market in the Ita-Amo area of Ilorin West Local Government Area, Kwara State, destroying goods worth millions of Naira. The blaze ravaged several shops in the market, including clothing stores, provisions, soft drink stalls, and meat vendors.
According to the Kwara State Fire Service, the fire caused extensive damage, with seven out of the 269 shops in the market destroyed. The Fire Service responded swiftly after receiving a distress call at approximately 9:36 PM. Firefighters worked diligently to contain the blaze, saving 269 other shops from further destruction.
Preliminary investigations suggest the fire was sparked by a power surge, likely due to fluctuating power supply from the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), as reported by market security personnel. The affected shops included vendors of meat, clothing materials, and various provisions.
The Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Prince Falade John, expressed his condolences to the market leadership, the affected shop owners, and the wider market community. He urged everyone to implement fire safety measures to prevent future disasters and expressed hope that the losses would be recovered in the future.