Africa
JUST IN: Fire engulfs popular Owode Market in Offa, Kwara State
At least seven shops were reportedly burned down at Zion Overcomer, beside Duro Suleiman’s residence on University Road in Tanke, while another seven shops were damaged by fire at the Tanke Oke-Odo district on University Road at 1.30 a.m. on Wednesday.
According to eyewitness report, the fire started in the early hours of Tuesday, spreading through shops.
A video of the tragedy obtained by SaharaReporters recorded several of the business owners in despair as they witnessed their properties destroyed by fire.
“There is too much light. This is not because of NEPA (electricity). Perhaps some people were cooking and the fire began from there since the light was so bright,” one of the traders remarked in the video.
According to a source in town on Tuesday morning, the fire was eventually extinguished by Federal Fire Service and Kwara State Fire Service personnel.
According to the source, the inferno affected at least five shops.
“The authorities are currently analyzing the issue, but I know at least five stores were hit. The value of the destroyed products and property cannot be determined until the assessment is completed.
“There are also several claims as to the cause of the fire until we wait for the fire service to release their statement on it,” a source familiar with the matter stated.
Meanwhile, just eight months ago, there was a report that a midnight fire demolished a residential building in the town, destroying property worth N6.5 million.
The incident occurred about 1:05 a.m. in the Kowope property in the Olorunkuse region of Offa. It affected a two-bedroom flat and four shops.
In December, 14 stores were reportedly destroyed by fire in two instances in the Tanke district of Ilorin in the Ilorin South Local Government district of Kwara State between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning. (https://punchng.com/fire-razes-14-shops-in-kwara/)
At least seven shops were reportedly burned down at Zion Overcomer, beside Duro Suleiman’s residence on University Road in Tanke, while another seven shops were damaged by fire at the Tanke Oke-Odo district on University Road at 1.30 a.m. on Wednesday.
While confirming the occurrences, the Kwara State Fire Service stated that its men responded to two fires in distinct locations in the Tanke region, saving 16 of the 31 stores engulfed by the roaring fire.
Hassan Adekunle, spokesman for the Kwara State Fire Service, acknowledged the occurrence at the time and stated that the firefighters’ prompt action saved property estimated to be worth N13.3 million.
