- A fire in Akure’s Oluwatuyi Quarters tragically claimed the lives of two children, aged three and five, while their mother was away
- Rescue efforts were hindered by the apartment’s location and initial assumptions that the children’s cries were routine discipline
- The charred remains of the toddlers were found after the fire, sparking calls for better fire safety and child supervision awareness
Two young children, Jeila and Jersy, aged three and five, tragically lost their lives when a fire engulfed their apartment at Church Street, Oluwatuyi Quarters, in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
The incident, which occurred around 3:30 p.m., has left the community in shock and mourning.
Source: Twitter
Reports indicate that the children’s father, whose name was not disclosed at the time of reporting, collapsed upon learning of the tragedy and was rushed to a hospital for medical attention.
Eyewitness accounts revealed that the fire started when the children were alone in the apartment. Their mother had reportedly locked them inside to step out briefly to purchase some items.
Unfortunately, by the time the fire was noticed, it had already engulfed much of the apartment, making rescue efforts extremely difficult.
Neighbor mistook cries for discipline reaction
Neighbours disclosed that the location of the apartment within the building further complicated rescue attempts, delaying help from reaching the trapped children.
One tenant, speaking anonymously, noted that the children’s cries were initially mistaken for routine discipline by their mother, causing a critical delay in recognizing the gravity of the situation.
After the fire was extinguished, the charred remains of the toddlers were discovered near the entrance of the apartment, suggesting that they had been trying to escape the blaze.
Local police officers from the B Division in Akure arrived at the scene to evacuate the remains and begin investigations into the incident.
Man accused of witchcraft burnt to death in Ebonyi
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the Ebonyi State Police Command had arrested 17 individuals accused of burning a man to death over allegations of witchcraft.
The tragic incident, which had sparked outrage across Nigeria, occurred on January 3 in Enohia Itim village, Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
According to a statement issued by Olumuyiwa Adejobi, spokesperson for the Force Headquarters in Abuja, the victim, Uromchi Okorocha, was accused by local youths of using witchcraft to cause multiple deaths in the community.
Despite efforts by the Uwanna Division police to intervene, the mob had already killed and burned Mr. Okorocha before officers could reach the scene, Premium Times reported.
Woman sets self ablaze in Taraba
In another related development, Legit.ng reported that a woman resident in Jigawa state ended it all following an unresolved misunderstanding in her marriage.
The woman, aged 40, who reportedly suffered severe depression a few months after her husband decided to call it quit, set herself on fire and was burnt beyond recognition.
DSP Lawan Shiisu, spokesperson of the Jigawa state police command, confirmed the incident in a statement on Friday and shared further details.
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Source: Legit.ng
