By Abigail Philip David
A five-year-old boy accidentally set a duplex on fire while playing with matches in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, on Monday.
The incident occurred at Abiodun Adebiyi Close, off Yidi Road, Irewolede area in Ilorin West Local Government. One of the rooms in the duplex was completely burnt before firefighters arrived to prevent further destruction.
Eyewitness Lanre Abdulrazaq, who was working nearby, said, “We noticed thick smoke coming from the building and raised an alarm. We didn’t initially know the cause, but the fire service arrived quickly to put it out.”
Spokesman for the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, confirmed that the fire started when the child accidentally dropped a lit matchstick on a combustible material.
“The fire broke out around 5:32 p.m. Our team responded swiftly and managed to contain the flames before they spread to other parts of the building,” Adekunle stated.
Commending the firefighters for their quick response, the State Fire Service Director, Prince Falade John, urged parents to keep matches away from children.
“This incident is a reminder that a single matchstick can destroy an entire building,” he warned.
The Kwara State Fire Service reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding lives and property through professional and rapid emergency response.
