A tragic incident on Sunday, May 4, 2025, left the Agyaragu community in Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State in mourning after five children, aged between six and ten, died from suspected suffocation inside an abandoned car.
The children, identified as Kamsi Onah (8), Somer Onah (6), Unice Udouchi (10), Nmasoma Nnaji (10), and Chioma Nnaji (8), were discovered unresponsive inside a disused vehicle parked in the compound of a resident, Mr Abu Agyeme.
Confirming the heartbreaking incident, Samuel Akala, Publicity Secretary of the Migili Youth Association, told PUNCH that the tragedy occurred around 3:00 p.m. on Sunday. According to him, some of the children were found dead at the scene, while others were confirmed dead after being rushed to Aro Hospital in Agyaragu. Their bodies have since been deposited in a mortuary in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.
The Nasarawa State Police Command also confirmed the incident in a statement issued by its spokesperson, SP Ramhan Nansel. He disclosed that the command had launched a full-scale investigation on the orders of the Commissioner of Police, CP Shetima Jauro Mohammed.
“The Nasarawa State Police Command has launched a full investigation into the unfortunate deaths of five children who were found lifeless inside an abandoned, unserviceable vehicle in the Agyaragu community of Obi Local Government Area,” Nansel stated.
He further explained that the incident was reported by a resident, Mr Ozimna Ogbor, at about 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. Following the report, the Divisional Police Officer and his team were immediately dispatched to the scene.
“Upon arrival, the officers found the victims locked inside the abandoned vehicle. The children were promptly evacuated to Aro Hospital, Agyaragu, where a medical doctor, regrettably, confirmed all five children dead due to suspected suffocation,” he said.
The police spokesperson recalled a similar tragedy that occurred in August 2019 in Keffi Local Government Area, where two children also lost their lives in an abandoned vehicle.
Expressing deep sorrow over the latest incident, Nansel extended condolences to the affected families and urged parents, guardians, and vehicle owners to exercise greater vigilance.
He cautioned: “Children should not be left unsupervised in or around parked or abandoned vehicles.”
