On a Sunday evening in Ilorin, Kwara State, a furious fire ravaged the auditorium and three offices of The Word Assembly Church.
The fire, which reportedly ignited after the Sunday Service, swiftly consumed the church’s main auditorium and three of its six offices along Ajase-Ipo Road in Ilorin.
According to reports from PUNCH Metro, the fire inflicted substantial damage on the church’s property due to the delayed notification to the state fire service and other security agencies in the state.
This information was conveyed in a statement issued by Hassan Adekunle, Head of Media and Publicity of the State Fire Service.
Adekunle explained, “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 one Mr. Akanni. The fire crew promptly responded to the call.
Upon arrival at the scene, they discovered that a devastating inferno had already consumed the church’s auditorium, primarily due to the delayed notification, despite the significant damage caused by the fire.
Nevertheless, the firefighters managed to contain the inferno, preventing it from spreading further.”
Adekunle also highlighted that the building materials used were not fire-retardant, including aluminum roofing and plywood for the ceiling, contributing to the fire’s rapid spread before the fire service’s arrival.
In addition to the auditorium, the fire affected three of the church’s six offices. An investigation into the cause of the outbreak suggested it might have resulted from a power surge.
Prominent figures, such as Alhaji AbdulRazaq Jiddah, 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 at the scene, along with various security agencies, including the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, and the Federal Fire Service, who provided support and assistance to mitigate property damage during the fire incident.
The Kwara State Fire Service estimated the total property loss in the incident at N39.5 Million, while the total estimated property saved amounted to N74.3 Million.
Director Falade Olumuyiwa stressed the critical importance of prompt reporting of fire incidents by the general public and urged citizens to swiftly contact the fire service when a fire occurs, emphasizing that rapid action is crucial to minimizing fire damage.
