Midnight fire on Monday gutted the popular Ipata market in Ilorin, Kwara State capital.
It was learnt that the fire, which destroyed eleven shops and damaged valuable property, started around 1:47am.
The spokesperson for Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Hakeem Adekunle, said the inferno was put out by the efforts of the fire service, thereby preventing it from spreading to other shops in the market.
He said, “Immediately we arrived at the scene ground, our gallant officers were able to contain the spread of the fire in time. Other shops in the market areas (more than 500 shops) were safely rescued from the ravaging inferno.
“And up till this moment, the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained due to some reasons and difficulties met at the scene ground.”
He quoted the Director of Kwara State Fire Service CFO Yakub I. Waheed as advising “the market people to always play safe and take safety as priority”.