By Emmanuel Ogbodo
A five-year-old boy playing with matches accidentally set a duplex on fire in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Monday, causing significant damage before firefighters contained the blaze.
The incident occurred at Abiodun Adebiyi Close, off Yidi Road in the Irewole area, destroying one room and damaging properties. Eyewitnesses reported seeing thick smoke before raising the alarm.
According to the Kwara State Fire Service, the child dropped a lit matchstick on combustible materials, sparking the fire.
Firefighters responded to a distress call at 5:32 p.m. and successfully prevented the flames from spreading to other parts of the five-bedroom building.
Fire Service Director, Prince Falade John, commended the swift response of his team and urged parents to keep matches and flammable items away from children, warning that “a single matchstick could destroy an entire building.”
