A fire outbreak on Saturday caused concern among residents and business owners along Pakata Road in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, after it affected a shop within a multi-purpose building.
The incident was confirmed by the Kwara State Fire Service in a statement issued by its Public Relations Officer, Hassan Adekunle, who revealed that the emergency was reported at approximately 11:09 a.m.
“The Kwara State Fire Service responded to a fire outbreak at No. 61 Pakata Road, Ita-Ogunbo Area, Ilorin, Kwara State, at about 11:09hrs on Saturday, 11th April 2026,” the statement read.
The building, which consists of eight rooms and five shops, initially triggered panic among occupants and nearby residents when the fire broke out.
“The incident involved a building comprising eight rooms and five shops, out of which one shop was affected by the fire,” the PRO added.
Emergency responders arrived promptly and were able to bring the situation under control before it escalated.
“Our firefighters promptly arrived at the scene and, through swift intervention, successfully contained the fire, preventing it from spreading to other shops, rooms, and nearby properties,” Adekunle stated.
Preliminary investigations conducted by the agency suggest that the fire was caused by an electrical issue linked to unstable power supply.
“Investigation revealed that the fire was caused by a power surge, which ignited combustible materials within the affected shop,” he said.
The Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Alabi Muhammed, advised residents and business owners to take precautionary steps to prevent similar incidents.
“I urge residents and business owners to ensure the use of standard electrical installations, install surge protectors, and avoid leaving electrical appliances unattended during unstable power supply.” Muhammed said.
He also emphasised the importance of having portable fire extinguishers readily available for quick response in emergencies.
The agency reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property, while encouraging the public to remain vigilant at all times.
