Plateau ex- governor’s ADC, four kids die in fire

Former Aide-De-Camp (ADC) to former governor of Plateau State and Minister of Industry, Ambassador Fidelis Tapgun, retired ASP Anthony Kwame, yesterday morning lost his life in a mysterious fire tragedy that engulfed his residence at Jenta Adamu community of Jos North Local Council, Plateau State.

The fire, which was said to have started around 1:30a.m., also burnt three of his children to ashes. Kwame’s wife and two other children, however, survived the incident and are receiving medical attention.

Eyewitnesses said the fire outbreak started around 1:30a.m. immediately after the Nigeria versus Sweden Olympics match ended. It burnt Kwame and the children – Theresa Anthony Thomas, Emmanuel Anthony and Kerry Anthony.

The compound of five apartments was razed down completely by the wild fire suspected to be from a power upsurge, which also affected property worth millions of naira.Speaking at the scene, the village head of Jenta Adamu, Kabala Bako, who shares the same fence with the deceased, said after watching the men’s Olympic football game, he was about going to bed when they heard the voices of children crying for help.

The youths rushed to their rescue, struggling to prevent the fire from spreading to other surrounding buildings, but did not succeed until the whole building got burnt.
According to Bako: “We kept pouring water before firefighters came to the scene and quickly put off the fire. When they went into the rooms, sadly they discovered ASP Anthony Kwame and his three children burnt to ashes. Only their skeletons were picked and taken to the hospital.”

“We did all we could to see that the family was rescued. It is sad this ugly incidence has caused our community this monumental loss.”It would be recalled that Kwame, who had seven children initially, lost his first wife and remarried. The second wife gave birth to three children for him.

One of the survivors, Manya Matthew, said she was sleeping inside her room with the children when she heard her neighbours’ children shouting for help and when she looked up, the fire had almost razed the wall. She added that no single item was recovered from the inferno.

Meanwhile, another daughter, who was receiving treatment at the hospital or injury sustained in the fire incidence, has passed on. The fire, which was said to have started around 1:30a.m. also burnt three of Kwame’s children to ashes. Two daughters and Kwame’s wife are presently being hospitalised.

The death of another daughter brings to four the number of children who died in the inferno along with their father.When contacted, the Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the State Police Command ASP Tyopev Mathias Terna, confirmed the tragedy. He said the ‘A’ Division of the State Police Force got a call around 3.00am yesterday and men were mobilised to the residence, adding that men of the force and fire fighters helped in putting out the fire.

He also confirmed that the retired police officer and three children lost their lives, while the wife and one member of the family were receiving treatment in the hospital.