Five children found dead inside abandoned vehicle in Niger state

Five children have reportedly died of suffocation inside an abandoned vehicle in the Albishiri area of Minna, the Niger state capital.

The children were said to have gone missing on Sunday morning before they were found dead at about 6 p.m. on the same day.

Sources in the area said one of the children was the child of the owner of the car while another one was the child of a neighbour.

The remaining three were siblings, belonging to one Abdullahi Etsu of Etsu-tasha, from the Albishiri area.

In a statement on Monday, Wasiu Abiodun, police spokesperson in Niger,  confirmed the incident.

The police spokesperson said the children were between the ages of five and 13.

Abiodun said the children were found trapped in a Honda Civic vehicle in the area.

“On 21/4/2024 at about 6.30 pm, based on information received at Kpakungu Div, five children of about 5-13 years of age were found trapped in a Honda Civic vehicle with Reg No. GO 778 ABC at Albishiri area of Minna,” the statement reads.

“They were found to have suffocated in the vehicle, while their bodies were later removed by the various Parents, as Police visited the scene.

“However, the owner of the vehicle was invited for questioning, as the unfortunate incident is under investigation.”