By: Bayero Ade
A five-year-old boy accidentally set a duplex on fire while playing with matches in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, on Monday.
According to Vanguard, the incident occurred at Abiodun Adebiyi Close, off Yidi Road, in the Irewolede area of Ilorin West Local Government.
According to an eyewitness, one of the rooms in the duplex was completely destroyed before firefighters from the Kwara State Fire Service arrived and prevented further damage.
A local resident, Lanre Abdulrazaq, who was working nearby, recounted the incident: “We suddenly noticed thick smoke coming from the building and immediately raised an alarm to alert people for assistance. Initially, we didn’t know what caused the fire, but later, the fire service arrived and managed to contain it.”
Hassan Adekunle, spokesperson for the state fire service, confirmed the incident, explaining that the fire started when the child unknowingly dropped a lit matchstick on a flammable material, causing it to spread.
In a statement released Monday night, Adekunle detailed the events: “On February 3, 2025, at approximately 5:32 PM, the Kwara State Fire Service received a distress call about a fire outbreak at Abiodun Adebiyi Close.
“Our firefighters responded swiftly and arrived to find one room in a five-bedroom duplex engulfed in flames. Using their expertise, they successfully contained the fire, preventing it from spreading to other parts of the building or nearby properties. Only one room was affected, thanks to their swift action.”
The Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Prince Falade John, praised the firefighters for their timely intervention and urged residents to take fire safety seriously. He also advised parents to keep matches away from children, warning that a single matchstick could lead to severe destruction.
Adekunle reaffirmed the fire service’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property through professionalism and rapid emergency response.
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