8-Month-Old Baby Feared Dead as Fire Guts Buildings in Rivers

A tragic fire incident occurred on Monday, January 13, 2025, on Rumuowolu Street in Eneke, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, where an eight-month-old baby is feared dead. The fire engulfed two of the seven self-contained apartments in the building.

The mother of the baby tried to rescue her two children but sustained injuries during the process. While her two-year-old survived with severe injuries, the eight-month-old baby did not make it. The mother reportedly fainted upon emerging from the burning building.

The Rivers State Emergency Medical Service responded promptly to the scene of the fire, taking the two surviving children to the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital for medical attention.

A neighbor, identified as Charity, who witnessed the incident, shared with news outlets that there was no electricity when the fire broke out, adding to the confusion and difficulty of the situation.

“We don’t know how the fire came up. The mother was not around. She went to buy something when this happened. Suddenly, we heard somebody start shouting, ‘Fire, fire.’ They are two (kids), the first one escaped and came out dragging the gate. In the process, the flame of the fire burnt the boy and they rushed him to the hospital and their mother was also affected by the fire,” she narrated.

Charity explained that as the boy struggled with the gate, the mother desperately tried to open it to rescue her children. However, in the process, she was burned while attempting to save her child. Despite her efforts, the situation remained dire.

“So that was how the fire burnt the boy,” she added.

Charity urged the Rivers State Government to intervene and provide assistance to the victims of the fire, emphasizing the urgent need for support in the wake of the devastating incident.

“There was nothing left for them. Everything, even, the boy didn’t survive it. But we pray that God should heal the other. We are calling on the Rivers State Government to come and assist them because they are left with nothing, no clothes, nothing at all. We don’t know where they will start from. They should assist them.”

It was also reported that the neighbors acted swiftly to extinguish the flames, preventing the fire from spreading to other buildings in the vicinity.