The three siblings who were burnt to death in a fire that engulfed some shops at the Mechanic village, Oke-Afa, Isolo area of Lagos State last Thursday, would have escaped death, had their mother granted their wish, Vanguard reports.

DAILY POST reports that the fire incident was suspected to have been triggered by a head-on collision between a LT 27 bus being chased by a team of policemen, and a 14-seater stationary commercial bus.

Report equally has it that a team of policemen, allegedly from Ejigbo Division, were chasing the LT 27 bus loaded with petroleum product.

The children – Christiana, Feranmi and Pelumi, had begged their mother to take them with her, when she was leaving at about 10 p.m on the said day, but she refused promising the children that she would be back by 11.30 p.m.

A woman, who claimed to have been with the children’s mother before she left them, said 6–year-old Pelumi begged his mother not to lock them inside the shop. Their mother was said to have bought them biscuits and juice to calm them, and then left.

On her return however, she did not meet them alive. The children’s mangled bodies were reportedly discovered close to the door with the eldest’s hand on the door handle apparently trying to open the door.

Her husband was said to have given her two shops. She used one for sales of provisions and salon operation, while the other served as bedroom.

Report had it that she usually locked the children up in the shop any time she had to go out.

According to the report, the woman, who is now on the run, was first married to a man, but divorced him after having four children for him. The estranged husband was said to have taken two of the children, leaving Christiana and Feranmi in their mother’s custody. She eventually got married to her present husband who resides in Ejigbo area, whom she has two children for.

A neighbour, one Mr. Gbadamosi Lawal, disclosed that her husband was devastated when he visited on the day of the incident. He said he was too shocked to speak to anyone, disclosing that everyone thought she went to his house.

He added: “On that day, she went with the youngest child, who is about three years old. Everybody is angry with her. In fact, I do not think she will come anywhere near here because she may be lynched.”

Gbadamosi went further to say residents revealed she had gone to her present lover’s place. Her present lover said he did not want any man’s child in his house, which was why any time she went visiting him, she locked the children in the shop.

Temporarily, the Lagos State Police Command as we learnt seem to be silent on the cause of the fire incident.