By Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure
Two children of the same mother, aged between three and five, were burnt to death after a fire engulfed their apartment in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
The deceased children were identified as Jeila and Jersy.
It was reported that the children were locked inside the apartment by their mother before the tragic incident occurred.
Neighbours living near the affected house stated that the mother of the deceased children was in the habit of locking them inside the house whenever she went out.
The incident, which happened at Church Street, Oluwatuyi Quarters, Akure, plunged the entire area into mourning.
An eyewitness disclosed that the father of the children collapsed and was rushed to the hospital upon hearing the news.
Other tenants in the building reportedly rushed to pack their belongings while making frantic efforts to break into the raging fire to rescue the trapped children, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
The fire had already engulfed a significant portion of the apartment before help could reach the children.
The burnt remains of the toddlers were found near the entrance of the apartment after the fire was extinguished.
Policemen from the B Division in Akure were said to have evacuated the corpses after questioning the residents.