Maid sets employer’s house on fire in Kwara

A female housemaid has reportedly set up a four-bedroom flat of her employer on fire in Ilorin, Kwara state on Thursday.

The Nigerian Tribune gathered that the fire originated when the maid attempted to ignite the gas cooker in her employer’s residence.

The incident, which was confirmed by the State Fire Service, happened at No. 6, Phase 1, off Baba-Soja Street, Akerebiata, Ilorin East local government area of the state at about 10:42 am.

In a statement by the head of the department, media and publicity of the fire service, Hassan Adekunle, the maid tried to strike matches while the liquefied gas had already saturated the kitchen.

“After several attempts to strike matches while the liquefied gas had already saturated the kitchen, the ignition finally occurred, causing an explosion that led to the fire”, the statement said.

It also said that the maid caught up in the fire was unharmed, adding that the entire structure was severely damaged due to the delayed emergency call.

On Thursday, August 15, 2024, at approximately 10:42 AM, the Kwara State Fire Service received an emergency call regarding a fire outbreak at No. 6, Phase 1, off Baba-Soja Street, Akerebiata, Ilorin East Local Government.

The fire crew responded immediately to prevent further destruction. Upon arrival, the firefighters encountered a bungalow with a four-bedroom flat fully engulfed in flames.

“The fire officers tried containing the fire and preventing it from spreading to adjacent buildings. The fire was eventually extinguished due to expertise of the fire officers.

The Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Prince Falade John, expressed his sympathy to those affected and urged the public to adhere strictly to safety precautions.

He emphasized the importance of striking matches before turning on gas appliances to prevent similar incidents in the future.