The popular Oja Tuntun multipurpose market in the Ilorin metropolis, Kwara State, on Wednesday night, was gutted by fire.

The fire, which reportedly started around 10:30pm, razed down no fewer than 15 shops in the process.

It was gathered that Oja Tuntun market has about 1,072 shops, 984 stands and 27 warehouses.

A spokesperson for the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, confirmed the fire incident, adding that the damage was minimal.

However, he could not ascertain the cause of the fire as of the time of filing this report.

“The fire service’s prompt and efficient response helped save commodities and property valued at over N25 billion,” he said.

“The cause of the fire couldn’t be affirmed yet while investigation is ongoing.

“The service urges residents of the state to always cultivate the habit of switching off their electrical appliances even before bedtime, as this would help prevent the chances of fire outbreaks in their various homes, market places, offices and also help them to drastically reduce it.”

The state Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq visited the scene of the fire outbreak and sympathised with the victims.