A tragic fire broke out on Sunday night in Ondo State, killing a middle-aged woman and her two children. The tragic incident occurred at Rainbow Street, Onipakala Junction, off Adeyemi Road, in Ondo West Local Government Area.
A family source, who chose to remain anonymous, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday that the victims were burned beyond recognition. The fire, which raged for hours, completely destroyed the building where they lived.
The source noted that the woman was a petty trader, and her children, identified as 16-year-old Bukola and 11-year-old Ife, were unable to escape the inferno. The situation became even worse when attempts by neighbors to rescue them failed due to the absence of an immediate response from the state fire service.
“When the fire was raging, we called the fire service, only to be informed that there’s no water and chemicals. In fact, immediately, the officer switched off his cell phone,” the source said.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as heartbreaking, with many residents left in shock and frustration over the lack of emergency response. Some neighbors reportedly tried to control the fire with buckets of water, but their efforts were not enough to stop the flames from engulfing the house.
The Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Funmilayo Odunlami, confirmed the incident to NAN through a text message. “Yes, their remains have been deposited at the morgue by the police,” Odunlami stated.
Meanwhile, the Chief Fire Officer in Ondo State, Bimbola Araroba, said he could not confirm the incident, adding that only the officer in charge of the area could provide further details.
