Fire Destroys Goods Worth Millions of Naira in Kwara

Property worth over N8million were on Monday razed by inferno at the Alanamu market in Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State. The fire incident, according to eyewitness, was noticed around 4 a.m., and affected more than eight shops. During the incident, according to media checks, loaded goods in the market like clothes, showing machines, refrigerators, soft drinks and other materials were burnt. Sources said the inferno was put under control by men of the state fire service. Confirming the incident yesterday, the Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Hassan Hakeem Adekunle, said there was no one in the market when the fire started, adding that it was a bike man who saw the inferno and quickly summoned the state fire service to rescue the situation. According to him, “Firemen did everything possible to immediately stop the spread of the fire to other shops, and subsequently extinguished the fire. "Out of the 86 shops in the market place, 11 shops were affected. The cause of the fire outbreak was suspected to be an electric power surge. "The estimated property saved was N865.5million and the estimated property lost was N9.6million." The Director, Kwara State Fire Service, Prince Falade John Olumuyiwa, urged the public, especially the market people to be more safety conscious. He also advised them against unmonitored charging practice that many people in the society are doing at their various shops, offices, and homes as this could endanger their lives and property. Meanwhile the Balogun Alanamu of Ilorin, Dr. Uthman Atolagbe Abubakar Jos; the Chairman, Kwara State Marketers’ Association, Alhaji Abdullahi Saad, and the people of Alanamu have appealed to the state government to come to their aid over the inferno. Speaking during an interview with THISDAY, who visited the scene yesterday, Balogun Alanamu praised the effort of the fire service operatives for their quick response and also appealed to the state Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, to come to the aids of the victim. Also speaking, the Babaloja of Kwara State, Alhaji Saad, called on the state government, political office holders and other philanthropists to assist the victims of the fire.