A devastating fire has claimed the life of a nine-year-old girl, identified as Testimony, in the Samakinwa area of Ondo town, Ondo State.
The incident occurred on Monday, April 14, 2025, at around 4:00 p.m., and was reportedly triggered by an electrical fault.
Testimony said to be mentally challenged, was alone in one of the rooms of a four-bedroom apartment when the fire broke out.
Eyewitnesses revealed that the girl had been locked inside the room by her guardian, who had left for church earlier in the day.
Despite frantic rescue efforts by neighbours and youths in the area, they were unable to reach her due to the securely locked door.
The inferno swept through the entire building, destroying several possessions and trapping the girl inside. By the time sympathizers managed to force the door open, Testimony’s body had been completely burned.
Her remains were later recovered and laid in a corner of the compound, as heartbroken residents and family members gathered to mourn the heartbreaking loss.