A fire incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday at Kara Market in Ajase-Ipo, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The state fire service spokesman, Hassan Adekunle, confirmed in a statement that 22 plank shops and six containers were destroyed out of the market’s 323 shops.
According to the statement, the Kwara State Fire Service received a distress call and responded to the blaze at exactly 1:35 a.m. on Wednesday, August 20, 2025.
“On arrival at the scene, firefighters discovered that out of a total of 323 shops in the market, comprising 22 plank shops and 7 kiosks among others, the fire affected 22 plank shops and 6 container shops.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the incident was caused by negligence, as one of the occupants of the plank shops failed to properly extinguish fire used for cooking.
“The fire later reignited, spreading rapidly to nearby shops.”
Adekunle disclosed that the timely intervention of the state fire service helped prevent further escalation and safeguarded hundreds of other shops and properties from destruction.
The director of the state fire service, Prince Falade John Olumuyiwa, urged the public to always ensure proper handling of fire and to take safety measures seriously, particularly in marketplaces where combustible materials are abundant.