Four Sisters, 2 To 6 Years, Die In Fire In Anambra

Four siblings perished in a fire at Umuele Umudim, Nnewi, Anambra
State on December 25, according to 24/7URepots. The victims, all
girls, were from two to six years old.

The mysterious fire allegedly started in the Ofomata family's
three-bedroom apartment located on the ground floor of a sto-rey
building. Ifeoma (2), Goodness and Mercy (twins, 3), and Chioma
Ofomata's (6) father Mr. Anthony Ofomata, 57, had gone to work, while
their mother Chineme-rem had gone to have a share of Christmas rice
gift meant for widows in the community.

Mr. Ofomata, a vulcanizer, says he was returning from work with their
two other male children, Kosy (8), and Ebu-ka (5), when he saw flames
and a crowd of sympathyzers near his residence who tried to get
through the iron burglary proofs on doors and windows to rescue the
four girls.

Unfortunately, the attempts to save the girls' lives were futile.
Eyewitnesses say they managed to burst through the door to the
apartment only to find the lifeless bodies mangled together at one
corner.

The father alleged he did not know his wife was going to get out of
their apartment leaving the girls alone. The mother explained the door
was actually locked from outside to restrict the girls' movement, and
it wasn't the first time the children were locked inside. Speaking to
the police, she said there were no inflammable mate-rials in the
apartment, and she does not know what could have caused the fire.

Investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the fire.