Abuja – January 16, 2024 – Viewpoint Housing News.
On Monday, the Megida Onikahun complex in Edun Isale, Ilorin South Local Government Area, Kwara State, suffered a fire outbrek that destroyed 44 apartments and left no less than 120 people homeless. The fire also damaged the area’s old compound and market.
As dense smoke enveloped the historic structure, four elderly individuals were taken out of the house by several Good Samaritans.
Although the event lasted for more than an hour before its workers were able to put out the roaring fire, the Kwara State Fire Service reported that no one was hurt.
State firemen responded to the early-morning fire, which originated from a garbage dump, at about 11:08 a.m., according to Hassan Adekunle, Head of Media and Publicity of the state fire service.
As state by Adekunle, “On Monday, January 15, 2024, Kwara State Fire Service personnel responded to a fire incident at Megida Onikanhun Compound, Edun Isale, Ilorin South Local Government Area of Kwara State.”When the firemen arrived, they discovered that a late call had left the whole property and Edun Market completely engulfed in flames. A portion of the fence was taken down to improve access and aid in the fight against fires.An urgent communication for extra personnel was sent to the Brigade Headquarters at 11:22 am, and the skilled firemen were able to contain the situation in less than an hour before totally putting out the fire.
According to the investigation, someone who was not identified set fire the garbage after mistaking it for innocuous smoke. Regretfully, it had spread to the next property, the incident, which affected 44 rooms and a mosque in the 75-room Magaji Onikanhun property, had rendered over 120 inhabitants homeless. Thankfully, nobody was hurt, he stated.
At the site were representatives from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the State Emergency Management Agency, and the Federal Fire Service’s Department of Disaster Management. According to him, the firemen and market products were protected from any looting by the crowd control measures implemented by the NSCDC personnel.
After the fire was brought under control, Adekunle said he offered his condolences to Kuranga Adebayo, the representative of Magaji Megida Onikanhun, on behalf of Prince Falade Olumuyiwa, the Director of the state Fire Service.
He stated that in order to preserve lives and property in the state, the director asked the people to always be cautious, particularly during this dry season, and to never hesitate to notify the fire department as soon as there is a fire in their neighbourhood.
