At the Megida Onikahun compound in Edun Isale, Ilorin South Local Government Area, Kwara State, on Monday, a fire consumed the historic compound and the nearby market, leaving no fewer than 120 people without a place to live and 44 rooms completely destroyed.
Thick smoke enveloped the historic building, prompting some Good Samaritans to evacuate four elderly residents.
However, according to the Kwara State Fire Service, no one was hurt during the incident, which lasted for more than an hour before their firefighters managed to put out the fierce fire.
Head of Media and Publicity of the state fire service, Hassan Adekunle, said the fire incident which started from a refuse dump in the morning was attended to around 11:08am by the state firefighters.
In accordance with Adekunle, “On Monday, January 15, 2024, Kwara State Fire Service personnel responded to a fire incident at Megida Onikanhun Compound, Edun Isale, Ilorin South Local Government Area of Kwara State.”When the firefighters arrived, they discovered that a late call had left the entire compound and Edun Market completely engulfed in flames. A portion of the fence was taken down to improve access for fighting fires.
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The Brigade Headquarters received a request for assistance at 11:22 a.m., and the skilled firefighters responded promptly, controlling the situation in under an hour and putting out the fire entirely.
Investigation showed that someone had set fire to trash, thinking it was innocuous smoke at first. Regretfully, it had extended to the adjacent compound, bemoaning the fact that the event had rendered more than 120 residents homeless, impacting 44 rooms as well as a mosque within the 75-room Magaji Onikanhun Compound. Luckily, nobody was injured, he stated.
At the scene were members of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Federal Fire Service, and the State Emergency Management Agency’s Department of Disaster Management officers. In order to guard market goods and firefighters, the NSCDC officers made sure crowd control was maintained.
On behalf of Prince Falade Olumuyiwa, Director of the state fire service, Adekunle said he sent his condolences to Kuranga Adebayo, the representative of Magaji Megida Onikanhun, following the containment of the fire.
According to him, the director urged everyone to be cautious at all times, particularly during this dry season, and to never hesitate to call the fire department as soon as there is a fire in their area. Doing so would help to save lives and property throughout the state.
