A late-night fire erupted on Wednesday at the popular Phone Village section of Challenge Market in Ilorin, Kwara State, destroying 10 kiosks and damaging several businesses.
The fire, which started around 9:06 p.m., was reportedly caused by a power surge. It primarily affected phone shops and repair centres within the bustling market, which houses over 120 shops, 80 kiosks, and numerous vendor stands.
According to Hassan Adekunle, spokesperson for the Kwara State Fire Service, quick response by firefighters prevented the fire from spreading further. “Thanks to our team’s swift action and tactical expertise, the damage was limited to just 10 kiosks,” he said in a Thursday statement.
Firefighters were commended by traders and market leaders for their effective intervention. Meanwhile, Director of the State Fire Service, Falade Olumuyiwa, expressed sympathy with affected traders and offered prayers for the restoration of their losses.
Preliminary investigations have confirmed a power surge as the likely cause of the inferno.
