Serious tragedy struck in Okwelle in the Onuimo Local Government Area of Imo State on Friday as three brothers between the ages of two and five were found dead inside a parked vehicle in the village, Punch Metro reports.
The names of the children were given as, Saviour Nweke, 5; Salvation Nweke 3; and Precious Nweke, 2.
Confirming the development to our correspondent, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Andrew Enwerem, a Superintendent of Police, said that the boys, of the same parents, were found dead inside a stationed vehicle in the village.
Enwerem, who said that the state commissioner of Police, Chris Ezike, had ordered a thorough investigation into the matter, disclosed that policemen who found the bodies of the siblings had deposited them at a nearby mortuary.
According to the Police spokesperson, “We received a report of three children of the same parents, Saviour, 5; Salvation, 3; and Precious, 2, missing. Unfortunately, the boys were found dead in a stationed vehicle in the village after a search party was declared.
“Suspicion has it that they entered inside a parked vehicle, locked themselves inside and didn’t know how to unlock it.
“They apparently suffocated under the heat and died afterwards. The corpses have been evacuated to a mortuary in the area by the Police.
“The CP who described the tragedy as ‘pathetic,’ has ordered a thorough investigation into the matter.”
However, a source in the village told The PUNCH that the children went out to play when their parents went out.
“Upon return, their parents started looking for them, but could not ascertain their whereabouts.
“A search party was declared and the Police were also involved. Unfortunately, their bodies were found inside a parked vehicle in the village.
“These were children who looked healthy a while ago. There was no sign that death was lurking. Their parents are currently devastated,” the source said.