The people of Mangu town in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State have been thrown into mourning following the deaths of six siblings in a late-night fire outbreak on Thursday around the Old Mangu Market area.
A resident, Saidu Nasir, confirmed the incident in Jos on Friday, saying, “Six children eventually died from the fire incident. I know their father. He is a vulcanizer, and right now, the family is in deep mourning. I pray that God will comfort them”.
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Family members disclosed that the deceased children were aged between four months and 12 years, deepening the grief that has enveloped the community since the tragic incident.
Umar Babangida Aliyu, an uncle of the victims said the fire started at about 2am and added that the children’s mother sustained severe burns while attempting to rescue them. He said she is currently receiving treatment at Allah Nakowa Hospital in Mangu.
“The mother and her nine children were watching television until about 11 p.m. Later, the three male children went to sleep, leaving the mother with the six younger ones”; Aliyu said.
“We cannot categorically say what caused the incident. All we know is that there was a power supply before they went to bed. Around 2:30am, we received a distress call that fire had engulfed the house”; he added.
Aliyu further disclosed that Governor Caleb Mutfwang and the chairman of Mangu Local Government Area visited the bereaved family to commiserate with them, quoting him as saying, “The governor urged the family to take solace in the tragedy and promised government support to help rebuild the destroyed house,” while noting the unity shown as “both Muslims and Christians… trooped out in their numbers to help”.
