A woman and her two children have tragically lost their lives in a fire that engulfed their residence in the Ondo West Local Council, Ondo State.The incident occurred Sunday night on Rainbow Street, Onipakala Junction, off Adeyemi Road in the council area.

Sources confirmed that the victims, a petty trader and her two children, identified as Bukola and Ife, were burnt beyond recognition in the blaze, which lasted for several hours. The fire also destroyed the building, trapping the victims in their apartment.

Efforts by neighbours to rescue the family were unsuccessful. A neighbour, Bimbo, shared that calls to the State Fire Service were futile. “When the fire was raging, we called the fire service, only to be told there was no water and chemicals. In fact, the officer switched off his cell phone immediately,” she alleged.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. The remains of the victims have been taken to the mortuary at the State General Hospital in Ondo town.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer for Ondo State, Funmilayo Odunlami, stated, “Yes, their remains have been deposited at the mortuary.”