At least 12 shops have been affected after a fire broke out at a shopping complex in the Mandate Market area of Ilorin, Kwara State, early Saturday.

The fire, which occurred opposite Alkad Filling Station, was reported at about 1:14am, with the blaze already engulfing the complex when firefighters arrived.

The complex houses about 40 shops.

Spokesperson for the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists in Ilorin.

He said the fire service responded with two fire appliances, while personnel from the Federal Fire Service later joined the operation to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to other shops and nearby properties.

Adekunle attributed the extent of the damage partly to the late reporting of the incident, saying 12 shops were affected despite the firefighters’ prompt intervention after receiving the distress call.

He added that preliminary investigations pointed to a possible power surge as the cause of the fire.

According to him, some people sleeping close to the complex reported hearing a loud combustion sound shortly after electricity was restored.

He, however, stressed that the exact cause of the incident remained subject to further investigation.

The Chief Fire Officer, Alabi Muhammed, commended the state and Federal Fire Service personnel for their coordinated response.

Muhammed urged business owners to ensure that electrical installations were carried out by qualified professionals and that electrical appliances and power sources were regularly monitored.

He also called on residents and business owners to report fire incidents promptly, noting that early notification gives emergency responders a better chance of containing fires before they cause extensive damage.

The incident occurred two days after another fire outbreak affected a residential building behind the Industrial Training Fund in the Asa-Dam area of Ilorin.

The Thursday incident reportedly damaged three bedrooms in a building comprising three-bedroom flats and a room-and-parlour self-contained apartment.

The Fire Service said the fire had spread considerably before its arrival but was eventually brought under control before it reached an adjoining block of apartments.

A power surge was also suspected in that incident, although the service said the cause had not been conclusively established.

The fire service subsequently advised residents and business owners to regularly inspect and maintain their electrical installations and immediately alert emergency responders whenever they notice a fire outbreak.