Tragedy struck Sunday in Minna, Niger state, following the discovery the bodies of five children in a car parked at a home in Area 1 of Albishiri.
It was gathered that the children were playing in a large compound outside their houses when they unknowingly locked themselves up in the abandoned Honda Civic car, which had been left unused for about two years by the owner.
The children were said to be missing since morning and that their parents made frantic search for them in vain until around six o’ clock in the evening when they checked a Honda concerto parked in the house but were already dead.
The deceased names and ages were given as Zahra, 10, Aisha, 7, Fati, 5, and Isah, 7 while one of the dead is confirmed to be the child of the owner of the car. However, three other children belong to one Abdullahi Etsu of Etsu-tasha, all resident in Albishiri area of Minna.
The chairman of Chanchaga local government area, Aminu Ladan, whose house is around the area, immediately visited the scene.
He confirmed the incident to journalists, describing it as unfortunate while condoling with the parents of the deceased children.
While still wondering on how the incident happened, family source said, “the five children of three families locked themselves up in a stationary car for five hours and suffocated to death. This has thrown the community into mourning.”
He stated that, “they locked themselves up since around 11am while the parents were looking for them only to discover their dead bodies in the car around 4pm after frantic searches everywhere around the vicinity.”
The chairman of Chanchaga local government area, Aminu Ladan, whose house is in the area immediately visited the scene.
As at the time of filing this report, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Wasiu Abiodun, could not be reached for reaction.
