Tragedy struck in Minna, Niger State capital on Sunday evening when five children of three families mistakingly locked themselves up in a stationary car for five hours and suffocated to death.
The incident, which occurred in Gurara Albishir area (Area 1) located on Bida Road in Minna, has thrown the community into mourning.
LEADERSHIP gathered that the children were playing in a large compound outside their houses when they unknowingly locked themselves up in the abandoned Honda Civic car, which had been left unused for about two years by the owner.
Sources hinted that they locked themselves up since around 11am while the parents were looking for them only to discover their dead bodies in the car around 4pm after frantic searches everywhere around the vicinity.
It was learnt that the victims, which included four females and a male, were made up of three siblings, who were the only children of their parents, while the remaining two victims were children of different parents including the owner of the car, respectively.
Thier names and ages were given as Zahra, 10, Aisha, 7, Fati, 5, and Isah, 7, while LEADERSHIP was unable to ascertain the identity of the 5th victim.
The chairman of Chanchaga local government area, Aminu Ladan, whose house is around the area where the incident happened, immediately visited the scene.
He confirmed the incident to journalists, describing it as unfortunate while condoling the parents of the deceased children.
As at the time of filing this report, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Wasiu Abiodun, could not be reached for reaction.