Fire guts Kwara cattle market, destroys 28 shops
Story by Susan Mbamah
A fire at the Kara Market in Ajase-Ipo, Kwara State, has destroyed at least 28 shops, causing millions of naira in losses for traders.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Wednesday around 1:35 a.m., is believed to have been caused by a cooking fire that was not properly extinguished.
According to Hassan Hakeem Adekunle, Head of Media and Publicity for the Kwara State Fire Service, firefighters were able to contain the blaze before it reached the area where animals were kept. Out of the 323 shops in the market—including plank shops, kiosks, and containers—the fire consumed 22 plank shops and six container shops.
The affected shops sold foodstuffs like rice, yam flour, corn, millet, and guinea corn, while the containers held provisions and other daily needs. Adekunle described the situation as “a very disturbing situation, especially at that time of the night.” Firefighters worked through the night to prevent further damage and protect other traders’ property.
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Adekunle stated that the Director of the Fire Service praised the swift response of the firemen, emphasizing that their actions saved “hundreds of shops and properties from being consumed.”
He urged both traders and residents to adopt better fire safety practices and avoid negligence, particularly in markets where there are large quantities of combustible materials.
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