Property valued at N360 million was destroyed by a fire that broke out at Owode Market, Offa, in the Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State on Tuesday.

It was discovered that a cigarette end that had fallen and ignited flammable items in the market was the source of the fire.

Hassan Adekunle, the Kwara State Fire Service spokesman, verified the fire outbreak in a statement.

According to Adekunle, the Fire Service was notified of the situation at 2:30 am, and Oyeyipo James immediately dispatched soldiers to the scene.

He described how the members of the state fire service worked together with their federal counterparts to get the situation under control.

“Despite the daunting challenge, it took a concerted five-hour-long battle to fully extinguish the flames, ensuring the safety of lives and properties within the vicinity.

“Initial assessments revealed that Owode Market, a bustling commercial hub housing 3,820 shops and 1,180 stands, remarkably suffered minimal damage. Only 50 shops bore the brunt of the inferno, thanks to the swift response and decisive actions of the Fire Service.

“The value of commodities and properties salvaged by the firefighting efforts is estimated to exceed N12 billion, providing a significant relief amidst the crisis. However, the unfortunate incident resulted in property losses amounting to N360m.

“Following a thorough investigation, it was determined that the fire was sparked by a dropped cigarette end igniting combustible materials, underscoring the critical importance of fire safety awareness and preventive measures,” he added.