Two siblings have been burnt to death after their apartment, situated on Church Street, Oluwatuyi Quarters, Akure, Ondo State capital, was engulfed by an inferno.

The deceased children, aged three and five, were locked in the room by their mother, who had gone to buy foodstuff when the fire started around 3:30 p.m.

According to sources, the fire engulfed a large part of the apartment, but it was late before neighbours realised that the children were inside the apartment.

A tenant in the house, who pleaded anonymity, said people mistook the children’s cries as normal routine beatings from their mother.

The burnt remains of the toddlers were found at the entrance of the apartment after the fire was put out. Policemen from the B Division in Akure were seen evacuating the corpses.

Meanwhile, the father, who was informed of the incident, was said to have collapsed and was rushed to the hospital.

While confirming the incident, the police public relations officer in the state, CSP Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, stated that the children, who were male, were choked and burnt to death.

She said: “The two male children left in the room were choked and burnt. One is Jelad Oluwaranakise, age five. The second is Jenson Oluwaranakinse, age three.

“Their mother, one Mrs. Deborah Oluwaranakinse, locked the two children inside their room and went out to search for food.”