An early hour fire outbreak on Thursday at the Gambari Area of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital has rendered about 100 residents homeless.

The fire outbreak which sources said began at about 4:30am affected a residential building and three shops in the area and took officers and men of the state fire service and sympathisers several hours to put out.

Eye witnesses explained that the fire started immediately the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, restored power supply to the area.

The ruins of the damaged property belonging to victims still littered the ground when LEADERSHIP visited the area.

Some of the victims of the fire incident, it was gathered, now squat with their neighbours while others take refuge in mosques within the vicinity.

Some of the victims, who spoke in emotion laden voices, described their condition as pathetic because they do not have any belongings apart from some clothes they were abkle to salvage from the inferno.

The victims therefore solicited assistance from the state and local governments so that they could continue to live their normal lives.

Special Adviser to Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed on emergency and relief, Alhaji Musa Abdullahi, who visited the scene of the incident, described the fire outbreak as "unfortunate" and promised government's assistance to the victims.