Fire Destroys Multi-million Naira Worth Of Goods In Kwara State

Goods worth several million on naira have been destroyed in a fire that gutted a shopping complex in the Geri-Alimi axis of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital on Sunday morning.

Information gathered by Ezenwoko’s Blog has it that the fire was caused by an electrical surge from one of the shops located in the complex.

Six shops were affected out of the 41 located in the complex due to the quick intervention of operatives of the Kwara State Fire Service who prevented it from spreading further.

Speaking on the fire incident, the spokesperson of the State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle said it was a Police officer from the B’ Division of the State Police Command that called their attention to the inferno about 5:35am in the morning.

He said: “It was DPO B’ Division of Nigeria police Force Kwara state command Ilorin who quickly summoned the brigade to the scene of occurrence at about 05:35hrs this morning
“However, firemen were able to eliminate the ravaging fire on time. And out of 41 shops, Only 6 shops in the shopping complex were affected.

“The fire was caused as a result of electric surge from one of the shops.”

Lamenting about the losses caused by the fire one of the shop owners in the complex identified as Mrs. Anifat Adetoro, a dealer in ready-made clothes said she just restocked about two days ago in preparation for the Christmas/New Year sales.

She said about N3 million worth of goods were destroyed in her shop by the fire.

While appreciating men of the fire service for their quick intervention which prevented further destruction, Mrs Adetoro called on the government to assist them.

In her words, “I just bought new goods a few days ago to enable me to meet up with December demands, I received a call from one of my neighbours around 5:23 am when I woke up to perform early morning prayer, and I was told that fire was burning our shops and we met operatives of fire service on ground trying to quench the inferno as at the time we got here, if not for them, almost all shops in this building would have destroyed”

“Goods in my shop alone worth three million-plus; because I also sell jewelleries and I just got a jeweleries order to deliver to a client in Saki, Oyo state by Monday and all these were destroyed. I want government and well to do people in the society to please come to my assistant because this is all my life, our kindhearted governor should please come to our rescue.”

Similarly, another victim, Mr Owolabi Akeem, a dealer in animals drugs, feed and poultry products estimated the destruction in his own shop at about four million Naira.

He also called on the government to assist them financially as he is currently devasted by the loss.

Mr. Akeem said “I got a call around 5:30 am and I was devastated with what I met. I don’t even know what’s next in my life, we will be grateful if the government can come to our support in terms of financial aid to pick up ourselves again.”