Fire destroys 24 shops at a market in Kwara

In the early hours of Tuesday, a fire broke out in Mandate Market, Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, destroying at least 24 shops.

The Kwara State Fire Service confirmed the incident in a statement released by its spokesperson, Hassan Hakeem Adekunle. The blaze began at approximately 4:44 a.m., and early investigations point to an electrical fault as the cause.

According to the statement, the fire originated in a stall that sold mobile‑phone accessories and provided charging services, then spread to adjacent shops that stored food items and other merchandise.

Firefighters were dispatched to the site to contain the flames and prevent further spread within the market.

Following the incident, CFS Alabi Muhammed, Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, visited the market to express sympathy to the traders affected by the loss.

He also called on traders and business owners to implement preventive safety measures, such as installing fire extinguishers and other fire‑safety equipment in their premises. The total value of the property loss had not been officially determined at the time of this report.