How a Five-Year-Old in Kwara Set a Duplex Building on Fire

A five-year-old boy reportedly ignited a fire in a duplex building on Monday while playing with matchsticks in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State. The incident occurred on Abiodun Adebiyi Close, located off Yidi Road in the Irewole area of Ilorin, within the Ilorin West Local Government Area. An eyewitness, who spoke to Punch Online, indicated that one of the rooms in the duplex was entirely consumed by flames, resulting in significant property damage before the state fire service arrived to mitigate further destruction. The witness, identified as Lanre Abdulrazaq, mentioned that he was engaged in a menial job nearby. He recounted, “We noticed thick smoke emanating from the building and raised the alarm to alert those in the vicinity for a rescue effort. Initially, we were unaware of the fire's origin, but later, the fire service arrived and managed to control the situation.” Hassan Adekunle, the spokesperson for the state fire service, confirmed the incident, attributing it to the actions of the five-year-old boy who accidentally dropped a lit matchstick onto a flammable material, which intensified the fire. Adekunle, who serves as a principal fire officer and head of Media and Publicity for the state fire service, issued a statement on Monday night stating, “Preliminary investigations indicated that the fire was initiated by a five-year-old boy playing with matches, who inadvertently dropped a lit stick onto combustible material, igniting the flames.” “On Monday, February 3, 2025, at approximately 17:32 hours, the Kwara State Fire Service received an emergency call regarding a fire outbreak at Abiodun Adebiyi Close, off Yidi Road, in the Irewole area of Ilorin. Our dedicated firefighters responded promptly, arriving at the scene to find one room in a five-bedroom duplex fully engulfed in flames. “Through their expertise and technical skill, the team worked diligently to contain the fire, preventing it from spreading to other rooms or adjacent buildings. Thanks to their exceptional coordination and proficiency, only one room sustained damage.” The Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Prince Falade John, praised the firefighters for their prompt and strategic actions. He encouraged the community to emphasize fire safety and advised parents to store matches out of reach of children, highlighting that even one matchstick has the potential to devastate an entire structure. Adekunle stated that the State Fire Service is unwavering in its dedication to safeguarding lives and property through professionalism and swift emergency response.