A devastating fire engulfed Ita Amodu market on Old Yidi Road, Ilorin, Kwara State, on Tuesday, destroying property and goods worth millions of naira. The blaze originated from a lorry overloaded with mattresses, which collided with a high-tension wire, sparking a fire that quickly spread to nearby structures.
The inferno affected 47 rooms and 19 shops, with 16 rooms and 7 shops completely destroyed. Despite the intense flames, firefighters, assisted by the Federal Fire Service and police, managed to save 31 rooms and 12 shops. An explosion from a nearby step-down transformer further exacerbated the situation.
The Kwara State Fire Service, led by PRO Hassan Adekunle, praised the collaborative efforts of emergency responders and the media for providing timely updates and support. Investigations confirmed the fire’s rapid spread was due to the flammable nature of the goods and the transformer explosion.
