A fire outbreak has left no fewer than 120 people homeless and destroyed 44 rooms in Megida Onikahun compound, Edun Isale, Ilorin South Local Government Area of Kwara State on Monday, January 15.
It was gathered that four aged individuals were evacuated by good Samaritans from the house.
Although no injuries were reported, the fire, which started from a refuse dump earlier in the day, lasted for more than an hour before being extinguished by the state Fire Service.
Hassan Adekunle, the Head of Media and Publicity of the state Fire Service, stated that the firefighters responded to the incident around 11:08 a.m.
The entire compound and Edun Market were engulfed in flames due to a late call. To enhance firefighting efforts, part of the fence was dismantled for better access.
Adekunle said, “At 11:22 am, a message was sent to the Brigade Headquarters for additional manpower, and the proficient firefighters successfully brought the situation under control within an hour before completely extinguishing the fire.”
Investigations revealed that an unknown person ignited refuse, initially mistaken for harmless smoke.
“Unfortunately, it spread to the nearby compound, affecting 120 occupants, 44 rooms, and a mosque in the 75-room Magaji Onikanhun Compound. Fortunately, there were no casualties”, he added.
The Federal Fire Service and officers from the Department of Disaster Management of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence and State Emergency Management Agency were present at the scene.
NSCDC officers ensured crowd control to prevent potential looting, safeguarding both market goods and the firefighters.
Adekunle, on behalf of the Director of the State Fire Service, Falade Olumuyiwa, condoled with the Magaji Megida Onikanhun’s representative, Kuranga Adebayo.
He urged the public to prioritize safety, especially during the dry season, and to promptly call the fire brigade in case of any fire emergency in their areas.
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