A 73-year-old cleric, identified as Pastor Awolola, has died in a tragic fire outbreak in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State.
The incident reportedly occurred around 11:58 a.m. on Monday along Cemetery Road in the Irewolede area of the city.
Confirming the development, the spokesperson of the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, said the victim had allegedly set fire to undergrowth on a piece of land he owned, which housed an unfinished building enclosed by a perimeter fence and gate.
According to Adekunle, the fire spread rapidly and blocked the only exit, leaving the elderly man trapped inside the premises.
He explained that the victim attempted to escape through the perimeter fence, but the flames had already reached that area, leading to his death.
Firefighters were promptly dispatched to the scene and succeeded in putting out the fire, preventing it from spreading to nearby properties. The deceased’s body was later recovered and handed over to the community chairman, Mr Sunday Nuha, for necessary arrangements.
Reacting to the incident, the Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Alabi Muhammed, expressed sorrow over the loss and cautioned the public against bush and undergrowth burning.
He described the practice as highly risky and unpredictable, particularly during dry and windy conditions, and urged residents to adopt safer land-clearing methods and promptly notify fire authorities in the event of any fire outbreak.