Properties worth millions of naira were destroyed in a mysterious inferno that gutted a block of four shops at 22, Sofoluwe Street, off Murtala road, Ilorin.

Community News gathered that the incident, which occurred on the eve of Christmas at about 1:30 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. had thrown traders of the shops into the labour market.

Speaking with the Community News on behalf of the affected shop owners, Mrs Felicia Ige said that all their wares had been burnt in the inferno with nothing left for them.

She said that the cause of the fire was not yet ascertained, adding that all they had including their bank savings had gone, saying they had already gone to the market a day before the incident to re-stock their shops in anticipation of Christmas sales.

She said all the four shops were burnt down by fire particularly the provision shop which contained assorted food stuffs and other various items.

"My brother, see what the fire incident has reduced us to, we only come to the shop and sit at the opposite direction looking at the burnt shop with nothing to sell," she said.

Mrs. Ige called on the state government to come to their aid so that she and her neighbours could go back to their businesses.

"Our means of livelihood has been taken away and government should please support us and save us from going into a state of joblessness and also save our family from hunger, misery and collapse", she said.

She also appealed to wealthy individuals and well-meaning Nigerians to come to their aid in order for them to go back to business.