One killed as late-night fire guts hotel facility in Kwara

A 52-year-old unidentified man has died in a late-night fire outbreak at Lafia Hotel Apartments along Coca-Cola Road in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

The tragic incident occurred at about 11:38 p.m. on Thursday, February 27, 2026, when a fire engulfed the short-let apartment facility, making escape difficult for occupants due to heavy smoke.

According to a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the Kwara State Fire Service, PFO Hassan Hakeem Adekunle, firefighters responded swiftly to a distress call from the premises, described as an apartment used for short-let purposes and not a conventional residential building.

The fire affected a building comprising two flats of three bedrooms each, with all sections reportedly impacted by the inferno. The entire structure was said to have been heavily filled with smoke, significantly hampering evacuation efforts.

“Tragically, one life was lost in the incident — an unidentified male, estimated to be about 52 years of age,” the statement read.
Preliminary investigations by the Fire Service indicated that the fire was triggered by a power surge.

The outbreak was said to have occurred immediately after electricity supply was restored, leading to a rapid spread of flames across the building.

Firefighters were said to have arrived promptly and brought the blaze under control by about 11:51 p.m. Three fire appliances were deployed to contain the situation, with additional support from the Federal Fire Service, whose personnel were also present at the scene.

The Director of the Fire Service, CFS Alabi Muhammed, expressed deep concern over the loss of life and extended condolences over the incident. He advised property owners, particularly operators of short-let apartments, to prioritise electrical safety by ensuring proper installations, using quality surge protectors, and conducting regular inspections.

He also stressed the importance of installing smoke detectors, emergency lighting, and fixed firefighting systems to enable early detection and safe evacuation, noting that smoke inhalation remains a leading cause of death in fire incidents.

The Kwara State Fire Service reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property and urged members of the public to promptly report fire outbreaks to enable swift emergency response.