A five-year-old boy accidentally set a duplex on fire while playing with matches in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Monday. The incident occurred at Abiodun Adebiyi Close, off Yidi Road, in the Irewolede area of Ilorin West Local Government.
Eyewitnesses reported that one of the rooms in the building was completely destroyed before firefighters arrived to prevent further damage. Lanre Abdulrazaq, who was working nearby, described how thick smoke began pouring from the building, prompting residents to raise the alarm. “We didn’t know the cause at first, but later, the fire service arrived and managed to contain the flames,” he said.
Hassan Adekunle, spokesman for the Kwara State Fire Service, confirmed that the fire was caused by the child, who unknowingly dropped a lit matchstick onto a combustible material, sparking the flames. According to Adekunle, firefighters responded to a distress call at 5:32 p.m. and arrived swiftly to find one room in the five-bedroom duplex engulfed in flames.
“Our team acted with expertise and precision, preventing the fire from spreading to other rooms or nearby buildings. Thanks to their swift response, only one room was affected,” he stated.
Prince Falade John, Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, commended the firefighters for their quick and effective response. He urged parents to keep matches away from children, warning that a single matchstick could lead to devastating consequences.
The Kwara State Fire Service reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property through rapid emergency response and public fire safety awareness.
