A devastating fire broke out on Friday night at the Olusola Saraki Market in the Ita-Amo area of Ilorin West Local Government, Kwara State, destroying goods worth millions of Naira. Seven shops were ravaged by the blaze, which officials linked to a power surge caused by an unstable electricity supply.
The Kwara State Fire Service disclosed that the inferno, which began around 9:36 PM, damaged shops selling clothing materials, provisions, soft drinks, and meat. Despite the destruction, swift action by firefighters ensured the fire was contained, sparing 269 of the 276 shops in the market.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Hassan Adekunle, the Principal Fire Officer and Head of Media and Publicity for the state’s fire department, confirmed the incident.
“On Friday, 10 January 2025, at about 21:36 hours, the Kwara State Fire Service received a distress call reporting a fire outbreak at Olusola Saraki Market, Ita-Amo, Ilorin.” He added that the fire team acted promptly to control the situation, preventing further escalation.
Preliminary investigations suggested the fire was triggered by a power surge following fluctuating electricity supply from the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).
