Tragedy struck in Calabar, Cross River State capital, after a family of six were roasted in a midnight fire.
Felix Akpabio, an architect, his wife, Helen, and four children died when an inferno from cooking gas leakage engulfed their Anatingha, Calabar home.
The children were identified as Victor (13), Joshua (10), Delight (9) and Faith (7).
The inferno, which occurred at about 1 am on Thursday, was said to have been ignited when Joshua perceived the smell of cooking gas leaking from the cylinder in their kitchen and woke the mother to alert her.
However, before the mother could do anything, the son struck a match which ignited the fire.
“Before anybody could do anything, the fire had spread from the kitchen to other rooms and engulfed everyone,” Obal, half sister of Helen, told newmen, yesterday.
She said her sister read radiography and was a staff of the accounts section of the General Hospital, Calabar and a member of the Deeper Life Christian Ministry. “When the fire started, their cries for help attracted neighbours who came out to rescue them before the arrival of the Fire Service”, Obal explained.
She said the husband was from Akwa Ibom State while her sister, Helen, was from Assiga in Yakkur Local Government Area of Cross River State. “They completed that house not long ago and were living there happily before this ugly incident; I have cried and cried until my eyes are aching”.
According to her, the first son of the family, Victor, was a student of Federal Government College, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State and was in Calabar for Easter holidays.
Cross River Police Command spokesman, Hogan Bassey, who confirmed the story, called on members of the public to guard against home accidents. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
I kind of don't understand......... who was there when Joshua lit the match...... was it that while the fire engulfed the house the family were explaining to someone how the fire started ............I am confused with this caption. Nonetheless may the souls of the departed rest in peace..... so bad an incidence.
ReplyDelete