In a heart-wrenching incident that has thrown the quiet community of Agyaragu in Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State into mourning, five children aged between six and ten were found dead inside an abandoned vehicle on Sunday, sparking grief, outrage, and calls for accountability.
According to preliminary investigations by the Nasarawa State Police Command, the lifeless bodies of the children were discovered inside a disused car parked in a residential compound. Residents of the area reported that the children, who were last seen playing together in the neighborhood, were found hours later unconscious in the vehicle. All efforts to revive them proved abortive, and they were later confirmed dead by medical officials, with early reports pointing to suffocation as the likely cause.
The Commissioner of Police, Shetima Jauro-Mohammed, while addressing the press in Lafia, expressed deep condolences to the grieving families. He described the incident as “devastating and avoidable,” and called for increased vigilance among parents, guardians, and community members. “This tragic event is a wake-up call. We must all take responsibility for the safety of our children. Abandoned vehicles and unsafe environments must not be allowed to become death traps,” the Commissioner said.
The police have since cordoned off the area and commenced a full-scale investigation to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the deaths. Part of the inquiry will involve verifying the ownership of the vehicle, how long it has been parked at the location, and whether there was any foul play.
Eyewitnesses and locals in Agyaragu described the scene as “traumatic,” with one resident stating that, “Nobody could believe such a thing could happen in broad daylight. These were children we all knew, happy and playful just hours before.”
As news of the tragedy spreads, child welfare advocates and local leaders have begun calling for government intervention, including the removal of abandoned vehicles from residential areas and better community surveillance.
Meanwhile, the Nasarawa State Government has been urged to immediately launch a child safety awareness campaign and consider legislation mandating the removal of derelict vehicles in urban and semi-urban areas.
The families of the victims are reportedly receiving counseling support from local religious and community groups as they prepare for burial rites.
This incident brings to the fore the urgent need for proactive safety measures to protect children in vulnerable communities—before another avoidable tragedy strikes.