Midnight fire consumes seven family members in Benue

Tragedy struck in the midnight on Thursday as seven, out the family of eight, were burnt beyond recognition in their house in Anyamkor area of Gboko East, Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State.

The head of the family, Mr Oye, as he was popularly referred to, was said to have just returned from a crusade in Osun State a day before the sad incident.

He was described as a jovial panel beater at the popular mechanic site in Gboko.

The PUNCH learnt on Friday that the household was a devoted Christian family.

Neighbours said when the house was on fire around mid night, they believed the family members had gone to church, especially when there was no distress calls from the house.

It was further gathered that Oye, his wife, two girls and three boys died in the inferno while the eldest son survived.

An eyewitness, who identified himself as Toryima, told The PUNCH that they only noticed a huge fire over the building but were helpless as there was no fire service station in the town.

He wondered what could have caused the inferno as there was no power supply in the town at that time.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Benue State, Matthew Okwu, however, said he had yet to be briefed by the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the area on the matter. Punch