A 73-year-old pastor, Samson Awolola, has died after a wildfire broke out on his private property in the Irewolede area of Ilorin, Kwara State.
The incident happened on Monday morning while the elderly cleric was reportedly clearing bushes and dry grass on the land, which contains an uncompleted building, a fenced perimeter and only one exit gate. The fire is said to have spread rapidly, blocking the sole escape route from the premises.
Eyewitnesses said a labourer working alongside the pastor managed to escape by climbing over the fence as the flames intensified. Residents in the area explained that Pastor Awolola attempted to flee the inferno the same way but became trapped as the fire closed in around him.
Officials of the Kwara State Fire Service later arrived at the scene and succeeded in putting out the blaze, preventing it from spreading to neighbouring properties. By the time firefighters gained control of the situation, the pastor had already died.
The Kwara State Fire Service confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Monday evening, saying it received a distress call at about 11:58 a.m. regarding the fire outbreak.
According to the agency’s Public Relations Officer, Hassan Adekunle, the remains of the deceased were recovered and handed over to the community chairman, Sunday Nuha, for further necessary action.
