Properties worth millions have reportedly been lost following a fire outbreak that engulfed the auditorium and three offices of the Word Assembly Church in Ilorin, Kwara State.
The inferno, which reportedly started in the evening of Sunday, September 3rd, after the conclusion of the Sunday Service, consumed the main auditorium and three of the six offices at the headquarters of the church located along Ajase-Ipo Road, Ilorin.
According to reports, the inferno caused severe damage to the church properties because of the late reporting of the incident to the state fire service and other security agencies in the state.
Confirming the incident, the Head of Media and Publicity of the State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, stated that the operatives of the Ilorin Fire Service promptly responded to the call to prevent the fire from making further in the church premises.
He said, “On Sunday, September 3rd, 2023, at approximately 17:08 hours, the Kwara State Fire Service received an urgent call reporting a fire outbreak at The Word Assembly Headquarters along Ajase-Ipo Road in Ilorin, Kwara State. The distress call was made by Mr. Akanni.
“The fire crew promptly responded to the call. Upon arrival at the scene, they found that a devastating inferno had already consumed the auditorium of the church due to the late call, despite the significant damage caused by the fire. However, the firefighters managed to contain the inferno and prevent it from spreading further.
“It’s worth noting that the materials used for the building’s construction were not fire-retardant, including aluminium roofing and plywood for the ceiling. These non-fire-resistant materials contributed to the rapid spread of the fire before the fire service’s arrival.”
Adekunle further stated that the fire not only affected the auditorium but also three out of the six offices.
“During the subsequent investigation into the cause of the outbreak, it was suspected to be a result of a power surge.
“At the scene of the incident, notable figures such as Alhaji AbdulRazaq Jiddah, the Senior Special Assistant to the Kwara Governor on Special Duties, and Prince Falade John Olumuyiwa, the Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, were present.
“Additionally, various security agencies, including the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Federal Fire Service, provided support and assistance to reduce the damage done to property in the fire incident.”
He also revealed that the Fire Service put the total estimated property lost in the incident at N39.5 million, while the total estimated property saved was N74.3 million.
“Therefore, the Director, of Kwara State Fire Service, Prince Falade Olumuyiwa, strongly emphasized the importance of timely reporting of fire incidents by the general public,” he said.
Urging members of the public to call the fire service promptly whenever a fire occurs, Falade emphasized that swift action is crucial for minimizing the extent of fire damage.
