Tragedy struck in Aba, Abia State, as a firecracker allegedly thrown by youths ushering in the New Year, ignited a fire in a story building, killing a woman and her 22-year-old son.
The firecracker, was said to have landed in stored kerosene inside the building, located along Amucha Street, off Ohanku Road, Ndiegoro/Ngwa Road in Aba South Council Area, and immediately set the building on fire.
Witnesses said that the deceased woman and son were sleeping at the time while some of their neighbours had traveled to their villages for the holiday.
Those that didn’t travel were said to have gone to midnight services, locking the gate from outside in order not to have problems entering their apartments on return, a situation that made it impossible for help to come from the outside when the fire started.
The woman’s son was said to have escaped but later returned to assist his mother when, unfortunately, both of them got consumed by the inferno that razed the entire building and properties of the landlord and all his tenants.
A source in the area told our Correspondent that the remains of the deceased had been deposited in a private mortuary in the town while the police had been alerted.
Efforts to speak with the State Police spokesman, Geoffrey Ogbonna, proved abortive, but a senior police source in Aba said a report had been received but did not give further details.
