In a tragic incident, a nine-year-old boy accidentally set his parents’ three-bedroom apartment ablaze in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Thursday.
The fire, which occurred at No. 52 Mandate Housing Estate, was reportedly caused by the child playing with matches. The flame ignited a mattress, quickly escalating into an uncontrollable inferno.
The head of Media and Publicity for the Kwara State Fire Service, Hakeem Adekunle, confirmed the incident and shared details of the events leading up to the disaster.
“The boy was playing with matches when the fire started,” Adekunle said. “By the time the fire was noticed, it had already spread beyond control.”
This is not the first time such an incident has occurred in the state. Adekunle recalled a similar event last year when another child in Ilorin accidentally burned down his family’s home.
In that case, the boy had lit a firecracker in panic after hearing his father’s car approaching. Believing it was a harmless prank, the boy hid the smoldering device under a bed.
Unaware of the growing danger, the family left the house for a shopping trip, only to return hours later to find their home completely consumed by fire.
The Kwara Fire Service has used these tragic incidents to emphasize the importance of fire safety, especially as the festive season approaches.
“Let us all work together to prevent such tragedies,” Adekunle said. “As children spend more time at home during the holidays, it’s crucial to ensure they are properly supervised.”
He urged parents to keep matches, lighters, and other flammable materials out of children’s reach and to educate them on the dangers of playing with fire.
Special attention was also drawn to the risks posed by firecrackers, commonly known as “bangers.” Adekunle warned families to use such items responsibly or avoid them altogether.
The fire service is also encouraging communities to adopt proactive measures to prevent house fires, including proper disposal of flammable waste, checking electrical appliances before leaving home, and ensuring every household has basic firefighting equipment.
“Safety should be a priority for all, especially during celebrations,” he added.
