In two instances that happened in the Tanke district of Ilorin in the Ilorin South Local Government district of Kwara State between Tuesday evening and the early hours of Wednesday, no less than fourteen stores were reportedly destroyed by fire.
The first incident happened in Tanke Oke-Odo neighborhood on University Road at about 1.30 a.m. on Wednesday, where another seven stores were destroyed by fire. The second incident happened at Zion Overcomer, opposite Duro Suleiman home, University Road, Tanke, at about 6 p.m. on Tuesday.
The Kwara State Fire Service confirmed the occurrences and stated that its personnel responded to two fire situations at separate sites in the Tanke region, saving 16 of the 31 stores that were completely destroyed by the raging fire.
The Head, Media and Publicity, Kwara State Fire Service, Mr. Hassan Adekunle, said the service “doused an intense fire outbreak on Tuesday, 12th December 2023 at Zion Overcomer, Opposite Duro Suleiman house, University Road, Tanke area Ilorin. Ilorin South Local Government Kwara State.
“The firefighting operations concluded at 18:11 hours. Out of the 17 shops in the building seven shops were affected by a burning fire, adding the total estimated property lost is N19.3 million while the total estimated property saved is N79.5 million.
“There was, however, no record of casualty of any sought.”
The statement added,
“In the early hour of Wednesday, December 13, 2023, at approximately 01:30 hour, the Kwara State Fire Service promptly responded to a fire incident at University Road, Tanke Oke-Odo Ilorin South Local Government Area, Kwara State.
“Upon arrival, our firefighters effectively extinguished the fire that engulfed 16 metal kiosks and affected seven shops.”
The fire service attributed the cause of the two incidents to be a result of a power surge in the area.
The Director of the state Fire Service, Falade Olumuyiwa, advised the general public to always be safety-conscious
He also urged them to always play safe especially during this period of harmattan and not to hesitate to call the fire brigade on time whenever there was any emergency in their areas, as this would save lives and properties of people in the state.