A five-year-old boy accidentally set a duplex on fire while playing with matchsticks in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, on Monday, February 3, 2025
The incident occurred at Abiodun Adebiyi Close, off Yidi Road, Irewolede area, Ilorin West Local Government Area. According to eyewitnesses, thick smoke was seen billowing from the building, prompting residents to raise an alarm before firefighters arrived.
Kwara State Fire Service spokesperson, Hassan Adekunle, confirmed that the child had unknowingly dropped a lit match on a combustible material, igniting the fire.
“Our firefighters arrived swiftly and managed to contain the fire, preventing it from spreading to other rooms or neighboring buildings. Only one room in the five-bedroom duplex was affected,” Adekunle said.
Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Prince Falade John, commended the team’s rapid response and urged parents to keep matches away from children to prevent similar incidents.
Authorities continue to emphasize fire safety awareness as a means of protecting lives and property.
