By Wilson Adekumola
Two siblings tragically lost their lives after a fire consumed property worth millions of naira at the Rumuola axis of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area in Rivers State on Sunday night.
According to reports, the blaze began in one of the rooms of a makeshift building where a mother had left her four children locked inside while she went out to buy cooking ingredients.
Eyewitnesses said two of the children were asleep while the elder siblings were awake when the fire erupted around 10 pm.
Although the exact cause of the fire remains unknown, one eyewitness dismissed social media claims that the inferno occurred inside Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Rumuola, clarifying that it actually happened behind the school.
He added that the makeshift structure, which housed over 27 families, was completely razed, leaving many homeless.
He stated, “It is a makeshift building behind the school. It is a gory site. I’m standing beside two children who have lost their lives in this fire. Their bodies have been covered.”
Another eyewitness, identified simply as Meg, explained, “The fire started from the woman who lost her two children. She was cooking at about 10 pm yesterday (Sunday). The stove she was using to cook was on. She then locked the door to go and buy some ingredients.
“When she came back the fire had engulfed the buildings. The two children who were awake tried to save their younger siblings but later ran out because of the heat from the fire. So that was how the two younger children were burnt to death.”
Meg further recounted that the elder children were banging on the door, shouting for help from neighbours without receiving a response, before eventually finding a way to escape.
Tragically, their younger siblings, aged six and eight, were burnt beyond recognition.
Over 27 families were left homeless, unable to salvage their possessions before firefighters arrived.
Witnesses said they alerted the fire service after seeing thick black smoke rising into the sky. Although the firefighters arrived late, they managed to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading further.
Confirming the incident, spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko stated, “From the situation report I received, the children were aged nine and five years.
“We (police) have started an investigation to ascertain the cause of the fire. The woman (mother) has been invited for questioning as part of our investigation.”
In a similar incident, fire engulfed two production facilities in Ilorin, Kwara State, within seven hours on Saturday, destroying properties worth millions of naira.
The first incident occurred late Friday night at Kunzol Multi-Sector Nigeria Limited, a yam flour and crunchy garri production factory in Kilanko–Agbonka, Ilorin South Local Government. The fire was reportedly triggered by heat remnants from a furnace used during production, which ignited combustible materials in the factory.
