Two Siblings Perish in Devastating Rivers Inferno
A heartbreaking fire incident in Rivers State has claimed the lives of two young siblings, leaving a community in mourning and multiple families homeless. The tragedy unfolded on Sunday night, November 16, 2025, in the Rumuola area of Obio/Akpor local government.
The Tragic Sequence of Events
According to eyewitness accounts, the disaster began when a mother locked her four children inside their room in a makeshift building while she went out to purchase cooking ingredients. The children, aged between five and nine years, were left unattended with a cooking stove still active.
The fire started at approximately 10 pm, engulfing the structure rapidly. Of the four children inside, two were already asleep while the elder siblings remained awake when the blaze began. The older children made desperate attempts to rescue their younger brothers but were forced to escape due to the intense heat and flames.
An eyewitness described the heartbreaking scene: "The two children who were awake tried to save their younger siblings but later ran out because of the heat from the fire. So that was how the two younger children were burnt to death."
Community Response and Aftermath
Neighbors and passersby eventually noticed thick black smoke billowing into the atmosphere and alerted the fire service. Although firefighters arrived late to the scene, they successfully contained the blaze and prevented it from spreading to adjacent structures.
The makeshift building, which housed over 27 families, was completely destroyed in the inferno. Residents lost properties worth millions of naira and have been rendered homeless.
The police have confirmed the incident and launched a full investigation. SP Grace Iringe-Koko, spokesperson for the State Police Command, stated: "From the situation report I received, the children were aged nine and five years. We have started an investigation to ascertain the cause of the fire. The woman (mother) has been invited for questioning as part of our investigation."
Authorities have clarified that contrary to earlier social media reports, the fire did not occur inside Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic but rather behind the educational institution.
The community remains in shock as they grapple with the loss of young lives and the displacement of multiple families, highlighting the urgent need for improved safety measures in residential areas.
