From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
A five-year-old boy on Monday, accidentally set a five-bedroom duplex ablaze in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
The incident occurred around 5:32 p.m. at Abiodun Adebiyi Close, off Yidi Road, Irewolede area of Ilorin.
According to the spokesman of the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, the fire, started while the boy was playing with matches, dropped a lit stick on a combustible material, igniting the flames.
The state fire service responded swiftly to a distress call and arrived at the scene to find one room already 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,” Adekunle stated.
The Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Prince Falade Olumuyiwa, praised the firefighters for their prompt and tactical response.
He urged residents to take fire safety seriously and cautioned parents against leaving matches within the reach of children.
“A single matchstick can destroy an entire building,” he warned.