No fewer than 24 shops were destroyed after a fire outbreak swept through parts of the Mandate Ultra-Modern Market in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, in the early hours of Tuesday.

The incident affected sections of the market complex, which houses over 200 shops, causing panic among traders as flames engulfed stores containing phone accessories, foodstuffs and other valuable goods.

According to a statement issued by the spokesperson for the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, firefighters received a distress call at about 4:44 a.m. and immediately deployed personnel to the scene.

He explained that the extent of the destruction was worsened because the fire had already spread significantly before the agency was alerted.

“The magnitude of destruction was largely intensified due to the late call made to the Fire Service, as the fire had already spread significantly before firefighters arrived at the scene,” Hassan said.

Despite the challenge, he noted that firefighters successfully prevented the blaze from spreading to other sections of the market.

“Nevertheless, the gallant firefighters of the Kwara State Fire Service displayed exceptional courage and professionalism in combating the inferno and successfully averted further destruction across the market,” he added.

Preliminary investigations by the agency indicated that the fire was caused by a power surge.

According to Hassan, the blaze reportedly started in a shop where phone accessories were sold alongside a phone charging business before spreading to adjoining shops used for storing foodstuffs and other commodities.

Some traders and market stakeholders commended the firefighters for their swift response, noting that their intervention saved a large portion of the market complex.

The Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Alabi Muhammed, visited the scene to sympathise with affected traders and met with leaders of the market associations.

“I am deeply saddened by this incident, and I assure you of the Fire Service’s continued support,” Alabi said during the visit.

He also advised traders to adopt proper fire safety measures, including the installation of fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, fire alarms and electrical protection devices.

“Market operators should invest in both active and passive fire safety measures, especially in situations where shop owners may not be present during emergencies,” he said.

The incident adds to the recent spate of fire outbreaks recorded across Kwara State.

On Monday, a residential building in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area, was partially destroyed after minors allegedly played with a cooking gas cylinder, while another fire earlier this month razed parts of a building containing a two-bedroom flat and seven shops in Ilorin.