Tragedy in Akure: Siblings Perish in House Fire while Mother steps out

A devastating fire on Wednesday claimed the lives of two young siblings, five-year-old Jelad Oluwaranakinse and his three-year-old brother, Jenson, in the Oluwatuyi area of Akure, Ondo State.  

The tragedy occurred while their mother, Mrs. Deborah Oluwaranakinse, had reportedly stepped out to buy food, leaving the children locked inside their apartment. In her absence, the fire broke out, reducing the home to ashes and trapping the boys inside.  

Eyewitnesses described desperate efforts by neighbors to save the children. “We tried everything to put out the fire and rescue them, but it was too late,” one neighbor recounted. "People called the state fire service, but by the time they arrived, the damage was already done, and the kids were gone."  

The exact cause of the fire remains unclear, though the flames erupted suddenly and spread rapidly, leaving little time for intervention.  

The charred remains of the children were later recovered and taken to the morgue at the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital in Akure.  

Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Funmilayo Odunlami, expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss and urged caution during this season of heightened fire risks.  

“The two male children, aged five and three, were choked and burnt in the fire. Their mother, Mrs. Deborah Oluwaranakinse, had locked them in the room while she went out to look for food. An investigation has commenced to determine the cause of the fire,” she said.  

This heartbreaking incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of fire, particularly during dry seasons. Authorities have called on residents to exercise extra vigilance, especially when leaving young children unattended, to prevent such avoidable tragedies.  

The Oluwaranakinse family and their community remain in mourning, grappling with the unbearable loss of two innocent lives.