SAN FRANCISCO, January 20, (THEWILL) – Four Nigerians, from one family, have died in a house fire at Prince George’s county, Maryland, in the United States.
The house fire, which started at about 2.30 am (US time) on Tuesday, resulted in the immediate death of Samson and Caroline Omogbo, who also lost their two-year-old twin grandchildren to the same fire.
According to Washington Post, the twins — Anna and Israel Omijie were pulled from the house by firefighters and taken to Children’s National Medical Centre, where they were pronounced dead.
The fire started when the family was fast asleep, but neighbours who were awake called the firefighters, who unfortunately arrived a little too late.
Elizabeth Omogbo-Omijie, the mother of the toddlers, jumped out of a second floor window to save her life from the choking fire. She however sustained head injuries and currently is in the hospital receiving treatment.
After investigations, Prince George’s County Fire Chief, Marc Bashoor, confirmed that the family had no smoke detectors in the house thus, the fire was not detected early.
“The smoke alarm gives you that early alert so you can get out. It was a chance they didn’t have,” he said.
Samson Omogbo had travelled to the US over 15 years ago after winning a US green card lottery in Nigeria. He started a furniture-restoration business and was able to bring his wife and seven children — three sons and four daughters — to the United States shortly after his arrival.
Samson Omogbo, who was 63 years old and a native of Urhobo, Delta State, prospered in the furniture business and was able to move into his new home with his family only in 2015.
Story by David Oputah
About the Author
