In the early hours of Tuesday, a fire outbreak ravaged numerous shops at Owode Market in Offa, Kwara State.
A video of the incident depicted shop owners mourning as they witnessed their properties being consumed by the flames.
“This fire is too much. This is not caused by NEPA (electricity). Maybe some people were cooking and the fire started from there because it was too much,” one of the traders said in the video.
A source from the town said personnel of the Federal Fire Service and Kwara State Fire Service eventually put out the fire, adding that no fewer than five shops were affected by the inferno.
“The authorities are still assessing the situation, but personally, I know at least five shops were affected. The worth of goods and properties destroyed can’t be said now until the assessment finishes.
“There are also several claims as to the cause of the fire until we wait for the fire service to release their statement on it,” the source said.
It is remembered that just eight months ago, there was a report concerning a midnight fire that engulfed a residential building in the town, causing destruction to property valued at N6.5 million.
Reports indicate that the incident, which occurred around 1:05 am at the Kowope compound, Olorunkuse area, Offa, affected a two-bedroom flat and four shops.
Confirming the incident, Hassan Adekunle, the spokesperson of the Kwara State Fire Service, stated that the swift response of firefighters prevented further damage, ultimately saving property estimated to be worth N13.3 million.