3 killed in Kwara fire outbreak

Monday, January 19, 2026 - A Fatal fire Incident at Laduba community, Ogidi Ilorin, Kwara State capital, has claimed the lives of three children.

The tragic incident occurred on Saturday, at 18:46hrs, at No. 1 Popo Street, beside Ojere Junction, Laduba Community, Ogidi Area of Ilorin metropolis.

The incident involved a storey building comprising about five rooms and six shops, with three shops on the ground floor affected by the fire.

According to the spokesman of the state fire service Hassan Adekunle, “Preliminary findings revealed that a woman with three children had purchased about 50 litres of petrol, which was stored inside a shop where the children were sleeping.

“Adjacent to the shop, another woman was cooking with charcoal, and embers/sparks from the charcoal fire spread to the area where the petrol was stored, triggering an explosion and subsequent fire outbreak.

“Tragically, the fire claimed the lives of three children, while a passerby who attempted to rescue the victims sustained injuries and was hospitalized before the arrival of the fire service.”

The spokesman disclosed that the deceased victims were recovered and handed over to the community chairman, Mr. Saadu Abdulrahim.

The deceased were identified as Abdulraman Jamiu Jeje, 8 years, Islamiya Abdulwahab, 17 years and Hadizah Abdulazeez Raji, 17-year-old daughter of the shop owner.

Director of the state fire service, Alabi Muhammed, expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss of lives and condoled the mothers of the deceased, as well as the entire Laduba community, describing the incident as heartbreaking and avoidable.

He strongly warned the public against storing inflammable liquids such as petrol in residential or commercial premises, especially near open flames or heat sources.

The director cautioned that petrol is highly volatile and can ignite explosively even from minimal heat or sparks.

He urged residents to keep inflammable substances far away from fire, avoid domestic storage of fuel, and immediately report unsafe practices to prevent future tragedies.