5-Year-old boy sets duplex on fire while playing with matches

A five-year-old boy in Ilorin, Kwara State, has reportedly set a duplex on fire while playing with matchsticks, leading to the destruction of one of the rooms before firefighters intervened.

According to the spokesman for the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, the child accidentally dropped a lit match on a combustible material, sparking the fire. The incident occurred on Monday, February 3, 2025, at Abiodun Adebiyi Close, Off Yidi Road, Irewolede Area, Ilorin.

Adekunle, who also serves as the head of Media and Publicity for the fire service, stated that emergency responders received a distress call at 5:32 PM and swiftly arrived at the scene. Upon arrival, firefighters found one room in the five-bedroom duplex 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. Because of their exceptional skill and coordination, only one room was affected,” Adekunle said.

The incident has raised concerns about fire safety awareness, particularly regarding children playing with hazardous items like matchsticks.