Midnight fire razes shops in Kwara shopping complex

Goods worth several millions of naira were on Sunday destroyed by a midnight fire that razed six shops in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.  The shops, located opposite the Kwara State Art and Culture council at Geri-Alimi area in Ilorin were left in complete ruins after the midnight inferno. Speaking with our reporter, a victim, […]

Goods worth several millions of naira were on Sunday destroyed by a midnight fire that razed six shops in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. 

The shops, located opposite the Kwara State Art and Culture council at Geri-Alimi area in Ilorin were left in complete ruins after the midnight inferno.

Speaking with our reporter, a victim, Mrs Anifat Adetoro, who sold unisex ready-made clothes and fashion accessories, said she restocked her shop just two days ago in preparation for the December sales.

“I just bought goods two days ago to enable me to meet up with the December demands worth over N3m. I received a call from one of my neighbours around 5:23am that fire had gutted our shops.

“I also sell jewellery and I just got a jewelries order to deliver to a client in Saki, Oyo State by Monday. All these have been destroyed. I want government and well to do people in the society to please assist me because this is all my life. Our kindhearted governor should please come to our rescue,” she appealed.

Another victim, Mr Owolabi Akeem, who sold vet drugs, feed and poultry facilities said, “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. 

“What I have calculated thus far is well over N4m,” he added.

Confirming the incident, the HOD, Media and Publicity, Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, said it was the DPO ‘B’ Division of the Nigeria Police, Kwara State, who drew the attention of the fire service to the incident.

 “Out of the 41 shops, only six shops in the shopping complex were affected.”

Adekunke added that “The inferno was caused as a result of electric surge from one of the shops.”