Quote:Three children have reportedly been killed in a midnight fire in a community ( name withheld) in the Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State .

The PUNCH gathered that the parents of the children were not at home when the incident happened .

While the father of the kids , who was said to be a musician , reportedly went to perform at an event, the mother reportedly eloped with a lover to a nearby hotel .

A resident , who preferred anonymity , told The PUNCH that the mother had locked the three children in a room and lit a candle before she left with the lover .

He said, “ The woman is a teacher . She left with her lover to a nearby hotel that night.

“ The three children were locked up in a room and they got burnt beyond recognition in the inferno believed to have been caused by a lit candle .

“ The children were aged 5, 4 and 2 years respectively.

“ She has been arrested by the police for investigation . ”

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state , Haruna Mohammed , confirmed the incident in a statement .

He , however, did not say anything about the arrest but said the victims sustained varying degrees of burns and all died on the spot while property worth millions of Naira were destroyed .

He said, ” Following the distress call , Police patrol team led by the DPO rushed to the scene , cordoned off the area and the fire was put off by local volunteers before the arrival of firefighters .

“ The victims were photographed and corpses buried, according to their customs .”