Panic As Fire Guts Phone Village In Kwara

A fire outbreak on Wednesday evening destroyed goods worth millions of naira at the popular phone village at Challenge Market in Ilorin, Kwara state capital.

The incident which was traced to power surge occurred at about 21:06 hours.

The market comprises over 120 shops, 80 kiosks and numerous stands, but only 10 kiosks were affected by the fire incident.

Spokesman of the State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, in a statement in Ilorin on Thursday, disclosed that the affected areas were primarily phone stores and repair shops.

“Our fire crew promptly mobilized and arrived at the scene to find several shops engulfed in flames.

“The market comprises over 120 shops, 80 kiosks, and numerous stands. Through swift intervention, professionalism, and tactical expertise, our team successfully curtailed the spread of the fire, limiting its impact to only 10 kiosks.

“The affected areas were primarily phone stores and repair shops. Preliminary investigations indicate that the fire was caused by a power surge.

“Traders and market stakeholders commended the state fire service for their rapid response and effectiveness in saving the market from widespread destruction,” the statement added.

Director of the state fire service, Prince Falade John Olumuyiwa, expressed his sympathy to the market leadership, affected traders and the entire market community.

He prayed that all losses incurred in the incident would be divinely restored in multiple folds.