Tragedy Strikes as Fire Razes Bungalow in Ilorin

A fire outbreak in the early hours of Saturday razed parts of a six-room bungalow at Danialu Alapata Compound in the Gaa Akabi area of Ilorin, Kwara State.

The incident, which occurred around 2:11 a.m., was swiftly contained by operatives of the Kwara State Fire Service, preventing the blaze from spreading to adjoining buildings.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Public Relations Officer of the service, Hassan Hakeem Adekunle, confirmed that only two of the six rooms in the bungalow were severely affected.

“The incident involved a bungalow comprising about six rooms, out of which two rooms were affected by the fire.

“Through the swift efforts of the firefighters, the blaze was contained, preventing it from spreading to other parts of the building and nearby properties,” he said.

Adekunle disclosed that preliminary investigations pointed to a power surge as the cause of the fire.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the fire was caused by a power surge, which ignited combustible materials within the affected rooms,” he added.

Reacting to the incident, the Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Alabi Muhammed, urged residents to adopt safety precautions to prevent similar occurrences.

“Residents should ensure the installation of surge protectors, avoid overloading electrical systems, and conduct regular inspections of wiring by qualified professionals,” he advised.

He further urged residents to switch off electrical appliances when not in use and to promptly report fire incidents to emergency responders.

The fire service reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property across the state, noting a recent spike in fire outbreaks.

Among recent incidents was the March 12 inferno at Owode Market in Offa, which destroyed six shops and goods worth millions of naira.

Similarly, a 10-room building was razed at Aata Compound in Ilorin earlier in the week, while another fire incident affected a shop at Akolapo Plaza on Wednesday.