A fire suspected to have been deliberately started gutted a room in a three-bedroom apartment at C76, Iluteju Community, in the Irewolede area of Ilorin, Kwara State, on Saturday. The incident occurred at about 1:07 p.m., according to the Kwara State Fire Service.

Firefighters responded quickly and contained the blaze before it spread to other parts of the building. The agency’s Public Relations Officer, Hassan Adekunle, said information gathered from sympathisers and community members at the scene led to the suspicion that the fire was intentionally set.

Adekunle said the affected room was the only one in the building that still contained furniture, while the other rooms had been emptied. He also noted that the property had already been disconnected from electricity, making power supply an unlikely immediate source of ignition, although the exact cause remains under investigation.

The Fire Service urged residents to remain alert and report suspicious activities that could threaten lives and property. Chief Fire Officer Muhammed Alabi also commended the firefighters for their prompt response and encouraged the public to provide accurate information during emergencies.