A deadly fire in Laduba community, Ogidi Ilorin, Kwara State capital, has claimed the lives of three children.
The tragic incident occurred on Saturday at 6:46 p.m. at No. 1 Popo Street, along Ojere Junction, Laduba Community, Ogidi Area of ​​Ilorin Metropolis.
The incident affected a multi-story building made up of about five rooms and six businesses, with three businesses on the ground floor affected by the fire.
According to the spokesperson for the state fire service, Hassan Adekunle, “preliminary findings revealed that a woman with three children had purchased about 50 liters of petrol, which was stored in a tent where the children were sleeping.
“Next to the store, another woman was cooking with charcoal, and the embers/sparks from the charcoal fire spread to the area where gasoline was stored, causing an explosion and subsequent fire.
“Tragically, the fire claimed the lives of three children, while a bystander who attempted to rescue the victims was injured and hospitalized before firefighters arrived.”
The spokesperson revealed that the deceased victims were recovered and handed over to the president of the community, Mr. Saadu Abdulrahim.
The deceased were identified as Abdulraman Jamiu Jeje, 8, Islamiya Abdulwahab, 17, and Hadizah Abdulazeez Raji, 17, daughter of the store owner.
The Director of the State Fire Service, Alabi Muhammed, expressed his deep sorrow over the tragic loss of life and extended his condolences to the mothers of the deceased as well as the entire Laduba community, calling the incident heartbreaking and avoidable.
He strongly warned the public against storing flammable liquids such as gasoline in residential or commercial premises, especially near open flames or heat sources.
The director warned that gasoline is very volatile and can ignite explosively with even minimal heat or sparks.
He urged residents to keep flammable substances away from fires, avoid domestic storage of fuel and immediately report unsafe practices to avoid future tragedies.