N3.8m lost as fire guts Kwara poly students’ apartments

A late afternoon fire has gutted seven self-contained apartments in a private hostel occupied by the students of the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin.

The private hostel, GQ Hostel, is located outside the polytechnic campus in the Apata Yakuba area of Ilorin.

The Wednesday fire was said to have affected seven of the 11 self-contained apartments in the building.

The PUNCH reports that household materials in the residential building were destroyed by the fire.

The Kwara State Fire Service, which confirmed the incident, said the fire started around 12.3pm, adding that a power surge was suspected as the cause.

A statement by the Head, Media and Publicity, Kwara State Fire Service, read, “Firemen performed excellently well by stopping the spread of the fire, and subsequently eliminating it.

“This firemen’s approach saved the other apartments of the building from the inferno.”

Adekunle said the service believed that the estimated cost of the property saved was N10.6m, while N3.8m was lost.

Adekunle said the Director, Kwara State Fire Service, Prince Falade Olumuyiwa. expressed sadness over the incident and urged the public to always stay safe.