By Gabriel Ogbu
A devastating fire broke out on Saturday at the Alhaji Haruna Kannike Shopping Complex in Ipata, Ilorin, destroying 22 rooms and causing extensive damage to household items. The inferno, which started around 3 p.m., affected a two-story building housing 44 rooms and 25 shops in the Ilorin East Local Government Area of Kwara State.
Eyewitnesses attributed the blaze to a power surge following the restoration of electricity after a prolonged blackout. Valuables including beds, electronics, and cooking utensils were destroyed.
The Kwara State Fire Service, responding to a distress call at 1:10 p.m., quickly deployed a fire truck and crew to the scene. By the time they arrived, the fire had spread to the upper floor of the building. With assistance from the Federal Fire Service, the blaze was contained, saving 22 rooms and all 25 shops from destruction.
This incident is the third major fire in Kwara State within ten days, following a truck fire in Ita Amodu and a bungalow blaze at Mandate Housing Estate caused by a child playing with matches. Earlier in the week, a fire in Alaparun Compound, Isale Alore, claimed the life of a 41-year-old man.
Falade John, Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, emphasized the importance of fire safety, urging the public to unplug appliances and ensure electrical plugs are turned off when not in use to prevent future outbreaks.
