Two Siblings Die in Fire that Gutted Rivers Community
It was a tragic night in the Rumuola area of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, where two young siblings lost their lives in a fire that swept through a makeshift building on Sunday.
The blaze, which destroyed properties worth millions of naira, broke out in one of the rooms where a mother had locked her four children before stepping out to buy ingredients for dinner.
According to eyewitnesses, the fire started around 10 pm. The two younger children, just six and eight years old, had already fallen asleep, while their older siblings were still awake.
By the time the flames spread, the older children tried desperately to rescue their younger ones but were forced back by the intensity of the heat. They eventually escaped, but their little siblings were trapped inside and burnt beyond recognition.
Contrary to rumours circulating online, the fire did not occur inside Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic but behind the school, in a crowded makeshift structure that housed more than 27 families.
Residents watched helplessly as the building was consumed by flames, leaving dozens homeless and unable to recover any belongings before firefighters arrived.
Emergency responders eventually put out the fire, but their late arrival meant the damage had already been done. Grief hung heavily in the air as neighbours gathered around the covered bodies of the two children.
This devastating incident highlights critical concerns about child safety and protection. Every child is entitled to the right to life, survival, and development, as well as the right to parental care, protection, and a safe environment.
Situations that expose children to avoidable danger, inadequate supervision, or unsafe living conditions represent violations of these fundamental rights.
