metro

How we lost 5 kids in abandoned vehicle – Grieving Nasarawa mothers

Published

11 months ago

May 9, 2025

How we lost 5 kids in abandoned vehicle – Grieving Nasarawa mothers

Sunday, May 4, 2025, will remain a dark day in the hearts of the people of the Agyaragu community in Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. While Christians across the world gathered to worship, residents of this quiet farming community were plunged into mourning following the tragic death of five children who suffocated inside an abandoned vehicle parked in a residential compound.

Agyaragu, located on the outskirts of Lafia along the Makurdi highway, is home to a diverse population, including the Mada, Eggon, Migili, and Kaberi ethnic groups. Farming is the main occupation here, and life is often quiet and communal, until the recent tragedy.

Our correspondent visited the community, which had become a shadow of itself. Residents—men, women, and children—gathered in clusters, speaking in hushed tones and weeping as they tried to make sense of the heartbreaking incident.

This was not the first time Nasarawa State had witnessed such a tragedy. In August 2013, two children of a chief imam died after locking themselves in their father’s car in Sabon Pegi, Lafia.

A similar incident occurred in August 2019 in Keffi, claiming the lives of two children. The Agyaragu incident marks the third of its kind in the state’s recent history.

READ ALSO:

One of the grieving mothers, Mrs Ifeoma Nnaji, 45, lost her two daughters – Nmesoma, 7, and Chidima, who would have turned 4 on May 8.

Through tears, she narrated her ordeal, saying, “I was with them in the morning before I left for church. I gave them breakfast and told them not to leave the compound. They asked if they could play outside, and I agreed. That was the last time I saw them alive.”

Mrs Nnaji said the abandoned vehicle had been parked in the compound for years and was always locked. “They had never played near it before. I don’t know how they managed to open it.”

The search for the children began around 1 pm and lasted until 2.30 pm. “We searched everywhere—every house in the area. We even informed the Mai Angwa to make an announcement,” she recalled. “Eventually, someone suggested we check the abandoned vehicle, and there they were, lifeless.”

Mrs Nnaji, who lost her husband just seven months ago, broke down. “I have no husband, no children left. It’s just me and God now.

“My late husband didn’t go through the kind of trauma I’m facing right now. He died, and they buried him. But for me, I not only experienced the death of my husband, but I’m still living through the pain of losing my two daughters. After seven months of my husband’s death, I will now have to carry their bodies to the village and bury them myself,” she lamented.

Mrs Bridget Iormagh lost her granddaughter, Eunice Shapera, 5, popularly called Bose. “She was always by my doorstep. She never wandered far because she was afraid of the dogs in that compound. That day, however, Eunice joined the other children to play.

“I had stepped out briefly to buy something. When I came back, she was gone. We searched everywhere, even rode motorcycles (okadas) around the community. Eventually, we returned to Mrs Nnaji’s compound and insisted she open her door, thinking they may have fallen asleep in her house.

“But it was a man we call ‘Doctor’ – a patent medicine store owner in the compound – who checked the abandoned car and found them inside,” she said.

Mrs Iormagh revealed that, “I had lost all my children before and brought Eunice to live with me. Now, she’s gone too.”

Nasarawa govt mourns

The Nasarawa State government has extended condolences to three bereaved families following the tragic death of five young girls.

READ ALSO:

Leading a delegation on a condolence visit, the deputy governor of the state, Dr Emmanuel Akabe, described the incident as “heartbreaking and tragic,” expressing deep sorrow over the untimely death of the children.

Accompanied by commissioners, special advisers, and the chairman of Obi Local Government Council, Dr Akabe urged the grieving families to take the devastating incident as an act of God.

“Death has cut short their dreams at such a tender age. It is painful, but we must not question God’s will. He gives and takes life at His appointed time,” he said solemnly.

He added that the government and the people of Nasarawa State stand in solidarity with the affected families during this moment of grief and prayed for strength and healing.

Representatives of the families – Mr Stephen Gen, Odo Sebastine and Ambrose Ugwueze – expressed appreciation for the visit, calling for more prayers and community vigilance.

Samuel Akala, Publicity Secretary of the Migili Youth Association and a community resident, confirmed the incident occurred around 3 pm on Sunday. He said some children were found dead in the vehicle; others died at Aro Hospital, Agyaragu.

The Nasarawa State Police Command, through its spokesman SP Ramhan Nansel, confirmed the tragedy and announced a full investigation.

In a statement, he said on May 4, 2025, at about 5.30 pm, one Mr Ozimna Ogbor reported that five children, Kamsi Onah, Soma Onah, Eunice Udouchi, Nmesoma Nnaji and Chioma Nnaji, were found unresponsive inside an abandoned vehicle belonging to Mr Abu Agyeme in Agyaragu.

He said the children were evacuated to the hospital, where doctors confirmed their deaths due to suspected suffocation.

The police pledged to determine the circumstances behind how the children gained access to the vehicle.

Nansel urged parents and vehicle owners to remain vigilant and ensure children do not have access to parked or abandoned vehicles.

How we lost 5 kids in abandoned vehicle – Grieving Nasarawa mothers

DAILY TRUST

Related Topics:abandoned vehicle kids Nasarawa

Up Next

DSS arrests 5 in Kano over murder of one-year-old girl

Don't Miss

Court dismisses MultiChoice suit against FCCPC over tariff hike

metro

MURIC Calls for Respect for Chief Imams, Urges Improved Government–Religious Relations in Oyo

Published

28 minutes ago

April 12, 2026

Trends Admin

Mallam Ibrahim Agunbiade

MURIC Calls for Respect for Chief Imams, Urges Improved Government–Religious Relations in Oyo

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Oyo State Chapter, has called on the state government, political parties, and public office holders to show greater respect for Chief Imams and ensure proper coordination when engaging religious leaders.

In a press statement issued on Sunday, the group said Chief Imams occupy highly revered positions as spiritual leaders and custodians of Islamic teachings, stressing that their roles are central to the moral, spiritual, and social wellbeing of Muslim communities in the state.

MURIC emphasized the need for stronger government–religious harmony in Oyo State, noting that mutual respect between political institutions and faith leaders is essential for peace, unity, and social stability.

The organisation urged political actors to avoid scheduling official programmes during Jumu’ah (Friday congregational prayers), warning that such timing often disrupts the religious obligations of Imams and creates avoidable conflict.

READ ALSO:

It also recommended that invitations to Chief Imams should be issued with at least one week’s notice, except in urgent or exceptional cases, and must be formally communicated with due respect.

According to MURIC, religious leaders should not be treated as ceremonial guests but as respected authorities whose presence deserves dignity and honour at public functions.

The group further called for improved event arrangements for Islamic leaders, including proper seating positions that reflect their status. It also advised that Chief Imams should not be seated in areas where alcohol is served, in order to respect their religious beliefs and preserve the sanctity of their office.

MURIC stressed that these measures would strengthen interfaith respect in Oyo State, improve collaboration between government and religious institutions, and promote peaceful coexistence across communities.

The statement was signed by Barr. Lawal Abduwaheed, Chairman of MURIC Oyo State Chapter, and Mallam Ibrahim Agunbiade, General Secretary.

MURIC Calls for Respect for Chief Imams, Urges Improved Government–Religious Relations in Oyo

metro

BREAKING: 56 Killed in Accidental Bombing at Borno–Yobe Border Market

Published

57 minutes ago

April 12, 2026

Trends Admin

BREAKING: 56 Killed in Accidental Bombing at Borno–Yobe Border Market

No fewer than 56 people, mostly traders, are feared dead and several others injured after an airstrike struck a busy weekly market at Jilli village, located along the border between Borno State and Yobe State.

The incident, which occurred on Saturday afternoon, has raised serious concerns over civilian safety during ongoing military operations targeting insurgents in Nigeria’s North-East region.

Jilli Market, situated between Gubio and Geidam Local Government Areas, is a major commercial hub that attracts traders and buyers from surrounding communities including Gubio, Chiweram, Benisheikh, Gurokayeya, and Geidam.

According to multiple local sources, the airstrike was carried out during a military operation aimed at suspected Boko Haram insurgents who were believed to have visited the market to collect levies and source supplies from traders.

However, the strike reportedly missed its intended targets and instead hit areas crowded with civilians actively engaged in market activities.

Eyewitnesses said the incident occurred around 2:46 p.m., when several fighter jets were seen hovering over the area before explosions were heard. One witness claimed that at least four jets were involved in the operation, though visibility of all aircraft was unclear.

READ ALSO:

“I counted 56 bodies myself and assisted in rescuing injured victims. The number could be higher because more bodies are still being recovered,” a local source said, adding that panic broke out as traders and buyers attempted to flee during the bombardment.

Medical sources confirmed that at least 14 injured victims were taken to the Specialist Hospital in Geidam for treatment, while others were reportedly moved to nearby health facilities. Some of the injured were later referred to a teaching hospital in Damaturu due to the severity of their conditions.

Local officials have given varying casualty figures as rescue efforts continue. A ward councillor, Malam Lawan Zanna, confirmed that dozens were killed, noting that some of those initially hospitalised later died, pushing the death toll higher.

The Special Adviser on Security Matters to the Yobe State Governor, Brigadier General Abdulsalam Dahiru (retd.), also confirmed the incident but clarified that the affected community falls under Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State.

The attack has sparked fear and outrage among residents, with calls for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the strike and measures to prevent civilian casualties during military operations.

As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian Air Force has not issued an official statement regarding the airstrike or the reported civilian casualties.

Security experts say the incident highlights the ongoing challenge of distinguishing between insurgents and civilians in conflict zones, particularly in areas where armed groups are known to blend into local populations.

Authorities are expected to provide further clarification as investigations continue and more details emerge about the operation and its outcome.

BREAKING: 56 Killed in Accidental Bombing at Borno–Yobe Border Market

metro

Court Orders Forfeiture of Pastor Ebonyi’s Hotel, School, Factory Over Alleged N1.39bn Fraud

Published

6 hours ago

April 12, 2026

Trends Admin

Pastor Theophilus Ebonyi

Court Orders Forfeiture of Pastor Ebonyi’s Hotel, School, Factory Over Alleged N1.39bn Fraud

A Federal High Court sitting in Lafia has ordered the permanent forfeiture of multiple properties belonging to Pastor Theophilus Ebonyi, founder and General Overseer of Faith On The Rock Ministry International, after ruling that the assets were acquired through proceeds of a large-scale fraud scheme estimated at about N1.39 billion.

The judgment followed an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which told the court that the forfeited properties were linked to funds traced to a fraudulent investment and fake grant operation allegedly run through Theobarth Global Foundation.

The court, presided over by Justice M.O. Olajuwon, held that the EFCC successfully established that the assets were derived from unlawful activities under the provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act. The judge further ruled that the defendant failed to provide credible evidence to justify legitimate ownership of the properties.

READ ALSO:

The forfeited assets include a 23-room hotel and event centre in Nyanya Gwandara, a warehouse and sachet water factory in Karu, two office buildings, a primary school, and a bank account containing over N1 million. Authorities said these properties were either directly purchased or developed using proceeds from the alleged financial fraud scheme.

EFCC investigators told the court that Ebonyi was arrested in 2023 over allegations that he orchestrated a fraudulent scheme through Theobarth Global Foundation, where he promoted a fake $20 billion Ford Foundation grant. The commission said he falsely claimed affiliation with the internationally recognised Ford Foundation, a claim the organisation has publicly denied.

According to investigators, victims were made to pay about N1.8 million each as registration and processing fees, with promises of access to the non-existent grant. The EFCC stated that the scheme defrauded individuals and corporate bodies of approximately N1.39 billion before it was exposed.

With the court’s ruling, all listed assets have now been permanently forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria as part of ongoing efforts to recover proceeds of crime and dismantle fraudulent investment networks.

The EFCC said the judgment marks a major step in the prosecution process and reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that proceeds of advance fee fraud are recovered and returned to public ownership.

Authorities also cautioned members of the public against falling for fake grant schemes or investment programmes that promise unrealistic returns or falsely claim affiliation with reputable international organisations such as the Ford Foundation.