A building comprising four rooms and 23 shops has been gutted by fire in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
The incident occurred on Thursday, along Onimamayin Street, in the Agbo-Oba Taiwo Oke area of Ilorin metropolis.
A statement by the spokesman of the state Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle disclosed that the quick response of firefighters saved the building from total destruction.
“Only nine shops were affected by the inferno. Unfortunately, a provision store and several industrial sewing machines were lost in the incident.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the fire was caused by a power surge,” the statement added.
Director of the Fire Service, Prince John Falade Olumuyiwa, expressed sympathy to the victims, praying for the restoration of their losses.
He urged the public to remain vigilant and safety-conscious, ensuring that all electrical appliances are unplugged when not in use.