Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, on Wednesday night joined the State Fire Service during a rescue operation at the Oja Tuntun market in Baboko, Ilorin, Ilorin West Local Government Area.
The fire broke out around 9:18 p.m., engulfing 15 shops and causing an estimated loss of goods valued at N367.4 million.
Situated in the heart of Ilorin, this market encompasses 1,072 shops, 984 stands, and 27 warehouses.
It was gathered that the State Fire Service promptly deployed equipment from its major stations in Ilorin, managing to salvage property estimated at around N25 billion due to their swift intervention.
At the time of reporting, the exact cause of the fire remained undetermined.
The Head, Media and Publicity of the state Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, in a statement, said, “On November 22, 2023, at approximately 21:18 hours, the Kwara State Fire Service responded to a fire at Oja Tuntun Market in Ilorin West Local Government Area.
“Upon arrival, the fire crew found numerous shops ablaze and worked swiftly to control and extinguish the fire. Two fire appliances from different stations, namely Brigade Headquarters and Folawiyo Road Fire Station, collaborated to tackle the situation effectively.
“Oja Tuntun Market, housing 1 072 shops, 984 stands, and 27 warehouses, experienced minimal damage, with only 15 shops affected by the inferno.
“The fire service’s prompt and efficient response helped save commodities and property valued at over N25 billion. The cause of the fire couldn’t be ascertained yet while an investigation is ongoing.
“Notably, the state Governor, Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq was present at the scene, expressing sympathy for those affected and commending the efforts of the Kwara State Fire Service in successfully managing the situation.”
