Three children of the same parents and two others whose ages ranged from five to 10 years died in an abandoned Honda Civic with Registration No. GO 778 ABC in Niger State following suffocation after they locked themselves inside the car for hours.

It is a common sight to find children in large numbers throwing caution to the wind and playing on the streets of Minna, the state capital.

The incident happened on Sunday in the Gurara Albishir area located on Bida Road when the children mistakenly entered the vehicle which had been abandoned for two years before the incident and locked themselves inside for over five hours.

An eyewitness in the neighbourhood who gave his name as Bala Usman said the children were playing in a large compound when they hopped into the abandoned car which refused to open.

“They tried to open the car and it refused to open and so they gave up trying. The car had been parked there for about two years by the owner.

“They might have mistakenly locked themselves up from around 11 am while the parents were searching for them only to discover their dead bodies in the car around 4 pm after fruitlessly looking everywhere around the vicinity,” Usman said.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the victims, which included four females and a male, comprised three siblings and two victims of different parents including the owner of the car. Their names and ages were given as Zahra, 10; Aisha, seven; Fati, five, and Isah, seven.

Our correspondent could not ascertain the identity of the fifth victim.

In his reaction, the chairman of Chanchaga Local Government Area, Aminu Ladan, confirmed the incident, describing it as unfortunate.

“This is a very unfortunate incident, I must tell you. We pray for the families to be comforted at a time like this,” he said.

Aminu, whose residence is located around the neighbourhood where the incident occurred, immediately visited the scene and condoled with the bereaved families.

The Niger State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, who also reacted to the incident said the owner of the vehicle had been invited for questioning while the matter was under investigation.

“On 21/4/2024 at about 6.30 pm, based on information received at Kpakungu Division, five children of about five to 13 years of age were found trapped in a Honda Civic vehicle with Reg No. GO 778 ABC at Albishiri area of Minna.

“They were found to have suffocated in the vehicle, while their bodies were later removed by the various parents, as the police visited the scene.

“However, the owner of the vehicle was invited for questioning, as the unfortunate incident is under investigation,” he stated in a WhatsApp message sent to our correspondent.

Source: https://punchng.com/five-children-die-in-abandoned-car-in-niger/

Mr Blogger, Is Still Speechless This Moment

Too bad. Hardship is pushing people to untold evil varices. This government should wake up asap

victorclean:
Too bad. Hardship is pushing people to untold evil varices. This government should wake up asap

Everything Tire NAIJA NWA COVER

Na wa o.all this abandoned vehicles.the owner shud be locking it na.

Under this dangerous scorching heat

victorclean:
Too bad. Hardship is pushing people to untold evil varices. This government should wake up asap

What has government has to do with this now? May God console the bereaved parents

So 😭 and pathetic 😜.May Almighty Allah rest their souls.

So terrible 😢

Buharidgeneral:
So 😭 and pathetic 😜.May Almighty Allah rest their souls.

Amen

What heartless and careless parents.

How can your children leave your peripheral vision without you calling out to know where they are?

Monitor your children.

Gone are the days when parents felt safe enough to yell..." lo sere nita"..."go and play outside" without fearing the worst.

11am to 4pm inside this heat

And nobody in the neighbourhood saw or heard the cries of these babies?

So sad😡

post=129583837:

Source: https://punchng.com/five-children-die-in-abandoned-car-in-niger/

As a parents, if you don't see your wards within 30 minutes look for them.
This is so unfortunate. May the soul of those kids rest in peace and console the parents

Na wa o

I know some people will still come here and blame the owner of the vehicle.

This story sounds somehow.

No humans in the vicinity to help?

Negligence from the car owner. He should have locked the door.
Nigerians don't understand safety at all.

Avoidable deaths are very painful

It's caused by bad parenting

So sad! It's strange how a ten year old will be unable to unlock this particular civics door. Probably broken accessories I guess

Sad one

Very bad

It is Well even inside the WELL.

Owner of car has been invited by police for questioning 😁

10 years old. A 10 year old should be able to open this car if he is familiar with cars.

Rip to them.

KingAzubuike:
I know some people will still come here and blame the owner of the vehicle.

For why Na?
"Abandoned vehicle" with fully inflated tires under this APC era?
This one Na parked vehicle.

Na wa ooo...


More safety measure should be adopted with abandoned cars in an area with kids.


This is not the first time this tragedy is happening in the country.


Kids love to play and explore with no instincts of the dangers that may be lurking.


Condolences to the bereaved...

Tokshadeen:



What has government has to do with this now? May God console the bereaved parents

Maybe Government should help those with abandoned vehicles by collecting them and giving them a brand new one. Also with bullet proof and bomb proof

Very sad.

victorclean:
Too bad. Hardship is pushing people to untold evil varices. This government should wake up asap

Govt. or did you say should wake up?… na government issue be this one again?. I tire for Una for this country o.

Very unfortunate. Why did the owner not lock the car?

So none of them thought of smashing the car window open their feet or something?