A teenage gang of three on Wednesday set a three-bedroom bungalow ablaze after stealing foodstuffs, groceries, and clothing in the Gaa Akanbi area of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
The incident, which occurred at No. 59 Afenifere Community, Onireke, Gaa Akanbi, in the Ilorin South Local Government Area, happened around 12 noon.
One of the teenagers, identified as 18-year-old Olawumi Olamide, revealed during interrogation that another member of the gang, known as Isiaka, was involved in the arson.
Eyewitnesses told PUNCH Online that the gang decided to set the house on fire after their attempted robbery was foiled by residents of the community.
Items such as a mattress, valuable documents, a plasma television, and clothing were completely destroyed in the fire.
The Kwara State Fire Service, which responded to the incident, confirmed the fire was an act of arson.
According to a statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, fire officers managed to bring the blaze under control within 25 minutes.
“Upon arriving at the scene, fire officers found a three-bedroom bungalow engulfed in flames. Despite their efforts, two rooms were completely destroyed by the fire,” the statement read.
Adekunle further explained that the fire was started after the gang had stolen foodstuffs and other items.
When the thieves were caught in the act by residents, one of them, Isiaka, set the house on fire in a bid to create a distraction and escape.
During the chaos, 18-year-old Olawumi Olamide was apprehended by community members.
Before his capture, Olamide stabbed a man twice but was eventually handed over to the chairman of the community, Mr. Azeez Jamiu, who later turned him over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Tanke Division.
In a video recording of the interrogation, Olamide, who was stripped naked by the community members, confessed that Isiaka set a mattress on fire to distract people before fleeing into the bush.
The Public Relations Officer of the NSCDC in Kwara State, ASC Ayoola Michael, confirmed that the suspect was in custody but did not provide further details as of the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, the Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Falade Olumuyiwa, urged the public to remain vigilant and prioritise safety to prevent similar incidents in the future.
