January 26, 2026 | News | SUNTV Global Channel
A tragic incident has claimed the life of a 73-year-old clergyman, Pastor Awolola, after a fire he allegedly set to clear undergrowth on his land spiralled out of control in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.The incident occurred on Monday at Cemetery Road, Irewolede Area of Ilorin, when the Kwara State Fire Service received a distress call at approximately 11:58 a.m. reporting a raging fire within a fenced property containing an unfinished building.
Confirming the incident in a statement, the Head of the Media Unit for the Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Hakeem Adekunle, disclosed that preliminary findings showed the deceased had ignited the fire while attempting to clear bushes on land he owned.According to the Fire Service, the property’s design — which included a perimeter fence and a gated entrance — became a deadly trap as the fire spread rapidly.“Investigations revealed that the undergrowth fire escalated suddenly and engulfed the only exit from the premises,” the statement read.
“In a desperate attempt to escape, the victim tried to climb the fence, but the flames had already reached that area, leading to his death.”Firefighters reportedly arrived promptly at the scene and worked swiftly to contain and extinguish the blaze, preventing it from spreading to nearby properties in the densely populated neighbourhood.However, by the time the fire was brought under control, Pastor Awolola had already succumbed to the inferno.
His remains were later recovered and handed over to the Community Chairman, Mr. Sunday Nuha, for further necessary actions in line with local customs.Reacting to the incident, the Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, CFS Alabi Muhammed, expressed deep sadness over the loss, describing the death as entirely avoidable.
He issued a stern warning to residents against bush and undergrowth burning, especially during dry and windy conditions, noting that such fires are highly unpredictable and often deadly.“Bush burning frequently leads to preventable loss of lives and property,” Muhammed cautioned, urging the public to adopt safer land-clearing methods and to promptly alert the Fire Service in the event of any fire outbreak.
The Kwara State Fire Service reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state.
