A pastor, John Kayoda, lost his wife and four children to a midnight inferno on Thursday, in Warri, Delta State.
The cleric was said to be at the church’s national programme, holding at Ikeji-Arakeji in Osun State, when the incident happened.
His wife and four children - two boys and two girls - all within ages eight and 18 died in the inferno which engulfed the mission house of the church at about 12.30 a.m on Thursday.
When the Nigerian Tribune got to the area around 10.30 a.m, sympathisers and members of the chucrh were gathered in groups wailing inconsolably.
The pastor was said to be on his way back to Warri as of the time of filing this report.
The entire three-bedroom mission house closely attached to the church auditorium was raised down, with no item recovered from the rubbles.
An eyewitness and church member, Mrs Stella Osama, said the remains of the pastor’s wife and four children were burnt beyond recognition.
Another eyewitness, Mr Bright December, said he suspected the fluctuating power supply to be the probable cause of the inferno.
According to the young man, who said he was not a member of the community but came on a visit, he heard the loud voice of the pastor’s wife, calling for help.
He said when he got to the mission house closely attached to the church auditorium, he saw the younger daughter of the two daughters screaming and making frantic efforts to break down the louvres, but could not because of the burglary proof.
He said the creams emanating from the mother and the last daughter were intense, but later waned until they gave up the ghost.
It was gathered that fire fighters and members of the Nigeria Police could only access the scene at 2.45 a.m, after the five had given up the ghost.
The Nigerian Tribune also learnt fire fighters and NEMA officials arrived the scene about an hour after a neighbour alerted them.
The remains of the deceased had been deposited at the Warri Central Hospital mogue.
Meanwhile, the Area Commander of Warri Area Command of the Nigeria Police, Hussein Rabiu, confirmed the incident, but said he was away in Asaba for a meeting.
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