Young brother and sister perish in devastating Ondo blaze

A devastating fire incident at a residence in Ondo State has claimed the lives of two young sisters, Queen Ohwo, aged 6, and Everlyne Ohwo, aged 4, at their family home located at No. 1 Olaribigbe Street, Zion Area, Ode-Aye, Okitipupa Council Area.

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The victims, who were daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Ohwo Peter, were burnt to death in the tragic incident, with their remains subsequently evacuated to the Health Centre in Ode-Aye, according to a police source.

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The fire outbreak is believed to have resulted from negligence during cooking activities by the parents, as suggested by the police source, highlighting the potential dangers of unattended cooking.

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In response to the incident, the state police command spokesperson, DSP Jimoh Abayomi, stated that the police Commissioner, Adebowale Lawal, has ordered a thorough investigation into the incident to determine the exact cause and circumstances surrounding the fire outbreak.

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As part of the investigation, the Divisional Police Officer in Ode-Aye has been directed to cordon off the scene, gather statements from witnesses, and collaborate with the Federal Fire Services to determine the origin and extent of the fire, according to Abayomi.

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Abayomi expressed condolences to the bereaved family and urged the public to exercise caution when handling fire and cooking appliances to prevent similar tragedies from occurring.

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The police spokesperson emphasized the importance of observing fire safety measures, including never leaving cooking unattended, especially when children are present, and keeping flammable materials away from cooking areas and open flames.

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Abayomi also appealed to parents to ensure that children are not left alone in homes where fire or heat sources are in use and to have basic fire safety tools readily available, such as fire extinguishers or buckets of sand/water.

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Furthermore, parents were advised to educate household members, especially children, on fire hazards and emergency response to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.

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The police command reiterated its commitment to safeguarding lives and property and encouraged residents to remain safety-conscious at all times, taking proactive measures to prevent fire outbreaks and other accidents.