Tragedy struck on saturday evening as fire outbreak claimed lives of three children following an explosion caused by improperly stored petrol at Laduba Community in the Ogidi area of Ilorin, Kwara state capital.
The incident occurred around 6:46pm at No. 1 Popo Street, near Ojere Junction, prompting an emergency response from the Kwara State Fire Service.
According to the Fire Service, the fire affected a storey building consisting of five rooms and six shops, with three of the shops on the ground floor badly damaged by the inferno.
Preliminary investigations revealed that a woman had purchased about 50 litres of petrol and stored it inside one of the shops where her children were sleeping. It was gathered that another woman was cooking with charcoal in a nearby shop when sparks from the charcoal fire spread to the area where the petrol was kept, leading to a sudden explosion and fire outbreak.
Sadly, three children lost their lives in the incident. A passerby who attempted to rescue the victims sustained serious injuries and was rushed to the hospital before firefighters arrived at the scene.
The victims were identified as Abdulraman Jamiu Jeje, aged eight; Islamiya Abdulwahab, 17, the daughter of the shop owner; and Hadizah AbdulAzeez Raji, also 17. Their remains were recovered and handed over to the community chairman, Mr Saadu Abdulrahim.
Reacting to the incident, the Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, CFS Alabi Muhammed, described the development as painful and avoidable.
“This is a heartbreaking tragedy that should never have happened. We sympathise deeply with the mothers of the deceased children and the entire Laduba community,” he said.
The Fire Service boss warned residents against storing inflammable substances such as petrol in homes or shops, especially close to open flames or heat sources.
“Petrol is extremely volatile and can ignite explosively even from a small spark. Residents must stop the practice of storing fuel in residential or commercial buildings and ensure inflammable materials are kept far away from fire,” Alabi cautioned.
He urged members of the public to promptly report unsafe practices and comply with fire safety regulations to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Kwara State Fire Service reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property, calling on residents across the state to take fire safety seriously to avoid needless loss of lives.
