Goods, Properties Worth Millions of Naira Destroyed As Fire Guts Popular Ilorin Market 

By Bamidele Aremu

Goods and properties worth millions of naira were on Tuesday destroyed as popular Ita Amodu market in Ilorin, Kwara state capital was razed by fire.

Ita Amodu market is known for sales of building materials.

The fire outbreak and it’s attendant destruction left residents and traders in tears and sorrow

The fire, eyewitness accounts reveal, started around 10 am at Ile Bilewu, Alabi-Owo Junction, Iwhen a truck loaded with foam caught fire after coming in contact with a high tension wire which resulted in a spark and subsequently turned into inferno which affected no fewer than 7 shops and over 16 residential rooms.

Speaking with the National Pilot at the scene, one of the victims who owns one of the affected apartments, Mr. Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman lamented, “This is my father’s building. The fire started around 11am this morning when a truck with loads of foam came in contact with live wires which led to the inferno. All the traders and residents in this building lost all their goods and cash,”

He further disclosed that the truck driver realizing the damaged he had caused, took to his heels.

“Immediately the fire started, the driver quickly stepped out of the vehicle and ran away. Nobody knows his whereabout nor the company that owns the vehicle ” he concluded.

Also, a trader who sells building materials at the market, Mr. Chinecherem Olaedo shared his bitter experience, “I was coming from my warehouse when I saw the truck on fire. Before we knew it, the fire had spread to our shops. If am to calculate the loss today, it is more than ₦120 million”

Another trader, Mrs Grace who also specialize in the sales of building materials pleaded to the Kwara State government for help.

“I’m still in shock. I do not know how I’m going to recover from this. Government should come to our aid,” she said.

National Pilot’s efforts to get reactions of other victims proved abortive as they declined comments due to the psychological trauma that the incident has caused them