Five Children Suffocate to Death Inside Abandoned Car in Nigeria

In a tragic incident that has left a community in shock and grief, five children suffocated to death after accidentally locking themselves inside an abandoned car in Minna, Niger State, Nigeria on Sunday. The victims, aged between 5 and 13 years old, were playing in a large compound when they wandered into the unused Honda Civic vehicle that had been parked in the same spot for about two years.

According to the Niger State Police Command, the lifeless bodies of the children, comprising four girls and one boy, were discovered around 4 p.m. after their parents had been frantically searching for them since 11 a.m. The children had mistakenly locked themselves in the car and were unable to open it, leading to their suffocation. "The children had mistakenly locked themselves in the car, which had been abandoned for more than two years," confirmed police spokesperson DSP Wasiu Abiodun.

The victims included three siblings who were the only children of their parents, and two additional children from separate families, one of whom was the car owner's child. The parents later discovered the bodies of the children trapped in the vehicle after searching for hours. "The incident was reported to the Kpakungu Division Office of the Police Command on Sunday evening," stated Abiodun.

Why this matters: The heartbreaking incident highlights the dangers posed by abandoned vehicles and the importance of proper child supervision. It also raises questions about community safety measures and the need for increased awareness to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

The chairman of the local government area, Abdullahi Maje, visited the scene and expressed his condolences to the grieving families, describing the incident as "very painful but an act of God." He called for caution from parents and guardians to avoid such unfortunate occurrences. The owner of the abandoned vehicle has been summoned for interrogation by the police as the investigation into the tragic event continues.

Key Takeaways

• 5 children, aged 5-13, suffocated to death in abandoned car in Minna, Nigeria.
• Children mistakenly locked themselves in the car, which had been parked for 2 years.
• Incident highlights dangers of abandoned vehicles and need for better child supervision.
• Local authorities expressed condolences and called for caution to prevent similar tragedies.
• Police are investigating the incident, including summoning the car owner for questioning.