Mother, Four Children Die in Rivers Inferno

A mother and her four children have died after a fire engulfed their residence in Okochiri community, Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday, leaving the family trapped inside the building as flames spread through the residence.

The Senior Commander of the Civilian Joint Task Force in Okrika, Igwe Godswill, confirmed that five people, comprising the mother and four children, were found dead when his team arrived at the scene.

Godswill said details surrounding the incident remained unclear, adding that the police had already arrived and gathered information about what happened.

He described the incident as deeply distressing and said a proper investigation would be necessary to establish the circumstances that led to the deaths.

Local youths reportedly helped put out the fire before the arrival of community security personnel. However, the victims were believed to have died before the flames were brought under control.

Reports from the community suggested that petrol may have been involved in the incident. One account said the fire could have started after an attempt to transfer petrol into a jerrycan, with a spark igniting the product. The fuel was also suspected by some residents to have been adulterated.

However, authorities have not established the cause of the fire, and the reports about petrol remain unconfirmed.

The Rivers State Police Command confirmed the incident and said an investigation had commenced. Police spokesperson Blessing Agabe said a woman and three children were confirmed dead by the command, while other occupants of the building sustained injuries.

The police also reported that property worth thousands of naira was destroyed in the inferno.

The difference between the community account of five deaths and the police confirmation of four deaths remains unresolved, with further investigation expected to establish the exact number of victims.

Authorities are expected to examine the building, interview residents and witnesses, and determine how the fire started. Investigators may also establish whether petrol or another combustible substance contributed to the incident.

The tragedy has renewed concerns about fire safety in residential areas Residents are mourning the loss, while police continue investigating the circumstances surrounding the deadly fire.