By Deborah Nnamdi
Two siblings were burnt to death on Sunday night after a fire outbreak swept through a cluster of makeshift buildings at the Rumuola axis of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, destroying properties worth millions of naira.
The fire reportedly started around 10 pm from one of the rooms in a shanty where a mother had locked her four children before stepping out to buy ingredients for cooking. Eyewitnesses said two of the children were asleep, while their older siblings were awake when the fire broke out.
Although the exact cause of the fire remains unclear, witnesses dismissed claims circulating on social media that the incident occurred inside the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Rumuola. They clarified that the fire happened in a settlement behind the institution.
The informal settlement, consisting of several makeshift rooms occupied by more than 27 families, was completely razed. Many residents were left homeless after failing to salvage their belongings before firefighters arrived.
“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,” one eyewitness said.
Another witness, identified as Meg, said the fire originated from the woman’s cooking area. According to her, the mother had left a stove burning while she went out briefly. The older children reportedly attempted to rescue their younger siblings but were forced to escape as the flames intensified.
The two younger children, aged six and eight, were trapped inside and burned beyond recognition. Neighbours and passers-by later alerted the fire service after noticing thick smoke rising from the area. Firefighters succeeded in extinguishing the blaze upon arrival, preventing further spread.
Spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident, stating that the victims were aged nine and five, according to the preliminary report. She added that an investigation has begun to determine the cause of the fire, and the mother of the children has been invited for questioning.
