News
Fire Guts Phone VillageiIn Ilorin’s Challenge Market
The inferno, which began around 9:06 PM on April 30, 2025, razed sections of the market known for its concentration of mobile phone sales and repairs.
Ilorin, Kwara State – A late-night fire outbreak on Wednesday devastated parts of the popular Challenge Phone Village in Ilorin, Kwara State, destroying phone shops and repair kiosks before firefighters brought the blaze under control.
The inferno, which began around 9:06 PM on April 30, 2025, razed sections of the market known for its concentration of mobile phone sales and repairs.
Located within the Challenge Market and recently fenced by the Kwara State Government, the commercial hub comprises over 120 shops and 80 kiosks.
Preliminary findings suggest the fire was triggered by a power surge.
In a statement issued by Hassan Hakeem Adekunle, Head of Media and Publicity for the Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, he confirmed the service received a distress call at exactly 21:06 hours.
“Our fire crew promptly mobilized and arrived at the scene to find several shops engulfed in flames. Through swift intervention, professionalism, and tactical expertise, our team successfully curtailed the spread of the fire, limiting its impact to only 10 kiosks,” the statement read.
The Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Prince Falade John Olumuyiwa, expressed sympathy to the affected traders and the market leadership.
“We deeply sympathize with all those affected by this unfortunate incident. We pray that every loss will be divinely restored in multiple folds,” he said.
The Kwara State Fire Service also reminded the public to report emergencies immediately and use the emergency hotlines: 08030419316, 112, or 08025896740.
