A mother and her three children have been killed in a fire outbreak at Okochiri community in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The tragedy occurred in the early hours of Friday, leaving the family dead and property worth thousands of naira destroyed.
The cause of the fire was yet to be established as of press time.
The Commander of the Civilian Joint Task Force in Okrika, Igwe Godswill, said details of the incident were still sketchy when his team arrived at the scene.
Godswill said the remains of the victims were found after the fire had been extinguished by community youths.
He said initial information received by the community suggested that five persons, including four children, might have been trapped in the building.
However, the Rivers State Police Command later confirmed that four persons — a woman and her three children — died in the inferno.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Blessing Agabe, said other persons sustained injuries, while property estimated at thousands of naira was destroyed.
Agabe said the police had commenced investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine the cause of the fire.
“There was a fire incident in which a woman and her three children tragically lost their lives, while others sustained injuries. Property estimated at thousands of naira was also destroyed in the inferno,” she said.
“Investigation is ongoing to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine the cause of the fire outbreak.”
The incident has thrown residents of the community into mourning as authorities continue efforts to establish what triggered the deadly fire.
