Two siblings identified as Joshua Ituma (seven years) and his younger sister Joy Ituma (five years) were reportedly dead while another was severely burnt as a result of a kerosene explosion that occurred in their residence at Ezzangbo in the Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The kids were living with their cousin, Uchena Onwe before the ugly incident occurred.
Investigations revealed that the tragedy occurred when a hurricane lamp, filled with the adulterated content, suddenly exploded while the kids were trying to light it.
The kerosene was purchased from a fuel station located at a junction on Ezzangbo along the Abakaliki-Enugu Expressway
A witness identified as Juliet Igwebuike told SUNDAY PUNCH that she resides very close to the victims’ house and that her attention was drawn to the incidence through a telephone call she received from her neighbour Uchena Onwe.
She said, “The cousin of the siblings alerted me through a telephone call, I rushed to the apartment only to discover that the man and the two children have been burnt. The burns on the children bodies were more severe than that of their cousin” she lamented.
Igwebuike explained that the three victims were rushed to the Accident and Emergency Unit of the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, where Joshua and his sister, Joy were confirmed dead by the medical personnel on duty.
When SUNDAY PUNCH visited the hospital, another victim of the explosion whose name was given as Mrs. Christiana Idenyi, who allegedly purchased Kerosene from the same outlet, was equally on admission.
It was observed that her hands and legs were severely burnt as a result of the explosion.
Confirming the incident, the Ebonyi State Police Public Relation Officer Lovet Odah, disclosed that the command has sealed up the filling station where the adulterated kerosene was purchased.
According to her, “a sample of the suspected adulterated kerosene has been sent for proper analysis.
The PPRO disclosed that the owner of the filling station has been arrested and detained while the command has commenced investigation into the incident.
Source: PUNCH.
