Three kids from the same family and two others, ages 5 to 10, passed away in an unused Honda Civic car with License Plate No. GO 778 ABC in Niger State after getting stuck inside for hours and running out of air.
It’s often seen that many children play freely on the streets of Minna, the capital of the state.
The incident occurred on Sunday in the Gurara Albishir area on Bida Road when the kids, who were playing around, accidentally got into the vehicle which had been abandoned for two years and unintentionally locked themselves in for over five hours.
A nearby observer named Bala Usman reported that the kids were playing in a large compound and entered the unused car, which wouldn't open.
“They tried to open the car, but it refused to open, so they gave up. The car has been parked there for about two years by the owner.
“They may have accidentally locked themselves in around 11 am while their parents were searching for them, only to find their lifeless bodies in the car around 4 pm after searching everywhere in the vicinity without success,” Usman said.
It was learned that the victims, including four girls and a boy, consisted of three siblings and two other children from different parents, including the owner of the car. The names and ages of four of the children were provided but kept confidential due to their young age, although the 5th victim's identity could not be confirmed.
Aminu Ladan, the chairman of Chanchaga Local Government Area, expressed his sorrow and confirmed the unfortunate incident.
Aminu, who lives close to the neighborhood where the incident occurred, promptly went to the scene and offered his condolences to the grieving families.
The Niger State Police Command PRO, Wasiu Abiodun, also commented on the incident, stating that the vehicle owner has been summoned for questioning while the case is being investigated.
“On 21/4/2024 at about 6.30 pm, based on information received at Kpakungu Div, five children between the ages of 5 and 13 were discovered trapped in a Honda Civic vehicle with License Plate No. GO 778 ABC at Albishiri area of Minna.
They were found to have suffocated in the vehicle, and their bodies were later removed by their respective parents, as the police visited the scene.
“However, the vehicle owner was called in for questioning, as the unfortunate incident is currently under investigation,” he explained.
