70-year-old woman, four grandchildren killed in Ondo fire outbreak

A 70-year-old woman, Mrs Moyo Jide, and her four grandchildren were killed in a fire outbreak in the early morning of Saturday in the coastal community of Biagbini community in Ese Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State

The inferno killed the septuagenarian and her grandchildren who have been living with their grandmother since the death of their father.

According to a source, who said the inferno occurred in the early hours of Saturday when the victims were sleeping, said the fire killed the septuagenarian and her four grandchildren including Jennifer, 3, Gbana,7, Biddaddy, 5 and Wisdom, 9.

He said the cause of the fire outbreak could not be ascertained but said neighbours were alerted by the noise from the house, adding that some of the victims had been burnt beyond recognition before help could reach them

The source, however, said that the fire incident might be caused from the fire left in the kitchen of the deceased’s home, disclosing that the whole house was razed down, destroying all the property.

He said, “everybody in the community was awake in the middle of the night when the fire started but there was nothing we could do to rescue the victims. Everything in the house was destroyed.

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“We are yet to know the cause of the fire but we suspect it could be cooking fire that was not properly put out at the kitchen that caused the inferno because we use firewood here and there is no electricity in the community.”

He said the matter was reported immediately at the Arogbo Police Division while the corpses of the deceased had been deposited at a hospital.

Confirming the development State Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO) Mr Femi Joseph, said the investigation had begun but said the command has not ascertained the cause of the inferno.

Joseph said: “We are yet ascertain the cause of the fire incident but we have commenced our investigation into it.”