Pain, anguish as fire ravages popular Ilorin Phone Village
–Traders count losses
By Oluwatoyin Hawal Momolosho
Tragedy struck on the night of April 30 as a fire outbreak ravaged the popular Phone Village Market in the Challenge area of Ilorin, Kwara State, leaving several shops and kiosks in ruins.
The fire which started around 9 p.m. caught many shop owners by surprise, with eyewitnesses reporting that the fire spread rapidly, engulfing a section of the market known for housing phone sales and repair shops.
“I was about to leave the shop when I heard people shouting ‘fire, fire!” recounted Muhammad, one of the affected traders.
“As I stepped out, I saw flames rolling in, and within seconds, the fire had reached my shop. Thank God the fire service arrived quickly to help us. Although we lost a lot, we’re grateful to be alive.”
Many traders did not know exactly what led to the outbreak.
However, the spokesman of the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, confirmed in a press statement issued on Thursday that a power surge was the likely cause.
“Our fire crew promptly mobilised and arrived at the scene to find several shops engulfed in flames.
“The market comprises over 120 shops, 80 kiosks, and numerous stands. Through swift intervention, professionalism, and tactical expertise, our team successfully curtailed the spread of the fire, limiting its impact to only 10 kiosks,” Adekunle stated.
Meanwhile, no lives were lost, but there was significant damage to goods and properties as many traders lamented the destruction of customers’ phones and valuable equipment.
“I had already left the shop before it happened,” said another shop owner. When I returned and saw the damage, I was scared. But I was relieved that no lives were lost. It’s just unfortunate that we lost so many devices and tools,” a trader lamented.
The Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Prince Falade Olumuyiwa, visited the market to sympathise with affected traders. He reassured them of the agency’s commitment to preventing future occurrences.
