A five-year-old boy playing with matches inadvertently set a room in a five-bedroom duplex on fire in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Monday, 3rd February 2025. The incident occurred at Abiodun Adebiyi Close, off Yidi Road, in the Irewole area of Ilorin West Local Government Area.
According to a statement by Hassan Hakeem Adekunle, spokesperson for the State Fire Service, the fire started at approximately 5:32 pm.
The Kwara State Fire Service responded to a distress call and arrived at the scene to find one room engulfed in flames. Firefighters contained the fire, preventing it from spreading to other rooms or nearby buildings.
Preliminary investigations revealed the five-year-old boy had been playing with matches and dropped a lit match on a combustible material.
Prince Falade John, Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, commended the firefighters for their swift response and urged the public to prioritise fire safety.
He advised parents to keep matches away from children, emphasising the destructive potential of a single matchstick. The Kwara State Fire Service reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property.
