A mother and her four children have died after a fire engulfed their home in Okochiri community, Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The Rivers house fire occurred in the early hours of Friday, September 18, 2026.

According to community sources cited by Channels Television, youths in the area helped put out the fire before the police arrived at the scene.

Some residents suggested that petrol may have been ignited by a spark, but the reported cause has not been independently verified.

The Senior Commander of the Civilian Joint Task Force in Okrika, Igwe Godswill, confirmed the deaths in a telephone interview with Channels Television.

He said four children and their mother were found dead when community members arrived at the scene.

Godswill said details surrounding the incident remained sketchy, adding that the police had already arrived and taken proper details of what happened.

He said the incident was being handled by officers at the Okrika Police Station and expressed hope that a proper investigation would establish what caused the fire.

The spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Blessing Agabe, also confirmed the incident in a chat with Channels Television.

The police have yet to release further details on the circumstances surrounding the deaths.