A 73-year-old pastor, Samson Awolola, has died following a bush burning incident on his private property in the Irewolede area of Ilorin, Kwara State.
The tragic incident occurred on Monday morning after the cleric reportedly set fire to bushes and dry grasses on his land, which has an uncompleted building, a fenced perimeter and a single gated exit. The fire was said to have spread rapidly, blocking the only escape route from the premises.
Eyewitnesses said a labourer working with the pastor managed to escape by climbing over the fence. However, Pastor Awolola was reportedly trapped while trying to scale the fence as the flames intensified around him.
Officials of the Kwara State Fire Service later arrived at the scene and succeeded in putting out the fire, preventing it from spreading to nearby properties. The victim, however, was confirmed dead before rescue efforts could reach him.
Confirming the incident in a statement on Monday evening, the Kwara State Fire Service said it received a distress call at about 11:58 a.m.
The agency’s Public Relations Officer, Hassan Adekunle, said the remains of the deceased were recovered and handed over to the community chairman, Sunday Nuha, for further necessary action.
Authorities have cautioned residents against indiscriminate bush burning, particularly during the dry season, due to the high risk it poses to lives and property.
