On Monday, a duplex in Ilorin, Kwara State, was severely damaged after a five-year-old child accidentally ignited a fire while playing with matchsticks.
The incident occurred in the Irewole neighborhood of Ilorin West Local Government Area, on Abiodun Adebiyi Close, near Yidi Road.
Reports indicate that by the time the state fire department arrived to contain the blaze, one of the duplex’s rooms had already been completely destroyed by the flames.
Lanre Abdulrazaq, a local worker in the area, described how thick smoke started pouring from the building, prompting him and others to raise the alarm and alert residents nearby.
“We didn’t know what caused the fire at first, but later we saw the fire service arrive and manage to contain the blaze,” Abdulrazaq said.
Kwara State Fire Service spokesman, Hassan Adekunle, confirmed the cause of the fire in a statement. Adekunle explained that preliminary investigations revealed the fire was sparked by the young boy, who had been playing with matches. Unknowingly, he dropped a lit match onto a combustible material, which quickly ignited and led to the blaze.
Adekunle, who serves as the Principal Fire Officer and Head of Media and Publicity at the Kwara State Fire Service, urged the public to be vigilant, especially with young children, to avoid such accidents in the future.
Fortunately, no live was lost in the incident, though significant property damage occurred before the fire was controlled.
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“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.
“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.”
