Four siblings perished in a fire at Umuele Umudim, Nnewi, Anambra State on December 25, according to 24/7URepots. The victims, all girls, were from two to six years old.
The mysterious fire allegedly started in the Ofomata family’s three-bedroom apartment located on the ground floor of a storey building. Ifeoma (2), Goodness and Mercy (twins, 3), and Chioma Ofomata’s (6) father Mr. Anthony Ofomata, 57, had gone to work, while their mother Chinemerem had gone to have a share of Christmas rice gift meant for widows in the community.
Mr. Ofomata, a vulcanizer, says he was returning from work with their two other male children, Kosy (8), and Ebuka (5), when he saw flames and a crowd of sympathyzers near his residence who tried to get through the iron burglary proofs on doors and windows to rescue the four girls.
Unfortunately, the attempts to save the girls’ lives were futile. Eyewitnesses say they managed to burst through the door to the apartment only to find the lifeless bodies mangled together at one corner.
The father alleged he did not know his wife was going to get out of their apartment leaving the girls alone. The mother explained the door was actually locked from outside to restrict the girls’ movement, and it wasn’t the first time the children were locked inside. Speaking to the police, she said there were no inflammable materials in the apartment, and she does not know what could have caused the fire.
Investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the fire.
