A five-year-old boy reportedly set a duplex on fire on Monday, while playing with matchsticks in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State.
The incident occurred at Abiodun Adebiyi Close, off Yidi Road, in the Irewole area of Ilorin, within the Ilorin West Local Government Area of the state.
An eyewitness told Punch Online that one of the rooms in the duplex was completely burnt, and property was destroyed before the state fire service arrived to prevent further damage to the building.
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The witness, identified as Lanre Abdulrazaq, who was performing a menial job in the area, said, “We just noticed that thick smoke was oozing out of the building; we raised the alarm to sensitise people around for a rescue operation.
“We did not know the cause of the fire but later we saw the fire service who arrived and contained the fire.”
However, Hassan Adekunle, the spokesman for the state fire service, confirmed the fire, explaining that it was caused by a five-year-old boy playing with matches, who unknowingly dropped one on a combustible material, which intensified the blaze.
Adekunle, a principal fire officer and head of Media and Publicity at the state fire service, said in a statement issued on Monday night that, “Preliminary investigations revealed that the fire was caused by a five-year-old boy playing with matches, who inadvertently dropped a lit stick on combustible material, igniting the flames
“On Monday, 3rd February 2025, at about 17:32 hours, the Kwara State Fire Service received a distress call regarding a fire outbreak at Abiodun Adebiyi Close, Off Yidi Road, Irewolede Area, Ilorin.
“Our gallant firefighters sprang into action, arriving swiftly at the scene to find one room in a five-bedroom duplex engulfed in flames.
“Through sheer expertise and technical precision, the team worked fervently to contain the fire, ensuring it did not spread to other rooms or nearby buildings. Thanks to their exceptional skill and coordination, only one room was affected.
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“The Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Prince Falade John, commended the firefighters for their swift and tactical response.
“He urged the public to prioritize fire safety and advised parents to keep matches away from children, emphasizing that a single matchstick could destroy an entire building.”
Adekunle stated that the State Fire Service remains dedicated to protecting lives and property through professionalism and swift emergency response.
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