A man, his wife and baby have died in a Christmas Day fire at 27 Mabel Street, off Etete Road, Benin.
Eyewitnesses said the fire started about 2 am and the family of three died before help could get to them.
The landlord, Mr. Egberamwen Nosakhare, said he saw smoke coming from one of the tenant’s room.
“I forced the door opened and saw flames from the gas cooker, but there was nothing I could do. I was helpless and could not go in. The family died in the fire.”
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A tenant, Mrs. Osayande Joseph, said she ran into her room to pick up her child and ran through the back door into the bush because there was flame everywhere.
Another tenant, Okhuoghae Osawaru, said: “The affected family was inside the house when the fire started. The man is hardworking; he just returned from outstation to celebrate Christmas with his wife and baby. He is hardworking, humble and nice. It is a pity that this happened on Christmas day.”
Names of the victims could not be ascertained last night.