A fire outbreak was on Monday night contained at the Ipata Oloje Market in Ilorin, Kwara State, after the swift intervention of the state’s Fire Service.
The incident occurred at about 8:05 p.m., affecting mainly the mechanic workshops section of the market, which houses over 178 shops, according to the Kwara State Fire Service spokesman, Hassan Adekunle.
Preliminary findings revealed that the inferno was triggered by an unknown person who set refuse on fire. The flames quickly spread, igniting nearby combustible materials and escalating into a full-scale fire.
The prompt arrival of firefighters helped to curtail the spread of the flames, thereby preventing extensive destruction of shops and adjoining structures.
The Director of the State Fire Service, while addressing the incident, warned against reckless burning of refuse around markets. He emphasized that such careless acts endanger lives and properties, urging residents to adopt safer waste disposal methods.
