Fire Suspected to have Come from Lantern Kills Pregnant Woman and Her Daughter as Husband Watches on Helplessly

atupaIn a tragic development, a pregnant woman, Mrs. Nkechi Amajuoyi and her two-year-old daughter were burnt to death on Tuesday night, following a mysterious fire, that consumed their house in Ubachima, Awo Omamma, Oru East Local Council of Imo State.

The husband of the bereaved, Benedict Amajuoyi, while narrating the incident, stated that “After having my supper, I decided to sleep on a bench outside the house since there was no light… I suddenly heard my wife and daughter screaming for help, but by the time I got to the room, it was already covered by smoke. I couldn’t help them when they needed me the most” he lamented.

Although the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, there are two different conflicting reports on how the fire began. Some eyewitnesses claimed that the family of three was relaxing outside the house until it became very cold for the woman and their daughter. Since there was no electrical power supply, the late Mrs Amajuoyi lit the family’s lantern and headed for the room with the little girl. Unknown to her, petrol was dripping from her husband’s motorcycle which was parked inside the house, and in a twinkle of the eye, the room was on fire.

However, another set of witnesses claimed that the woman and her daughter had successfully gone to bed before the mysterious fire sprung from the lantern and spread round the room.