Tragic! 2-Year-Old Twin Toddlers And Their Nigerian Grandparents Killed In United States House Fire [Photos+Video]

Nigerian twin toddlers and their grandparents has been reported dead on Tuesday after a house caught fire overnight in Chillum, Maryland, USA. The twins’ mother jumped from a second-floor window and is expected to survive her injuries. 

Prince George’s County officials said that the 2-years old toddlers, Anna and Israel Omijie, were both killed, and their grandparents, Carolyn Omogbo, 55 and Sampson Omogbo, 63, also died after they were trapped inside a separate room as investigators found no evidence the rental home had working smoke detectors.

 Prince George’s County firefighters were called just after 2 a.m. to the 6700 block of Knollbrook Drive, where a total of seven people were when the blaze erupted. “The wind was blowing and the fire was just out of control. I saw the little kids being carried out in an ambulance. I knew something bad had happened because the ambulance just left quietly,” neighbor, Edmund Romero said.

 Frantic family members who were able to escape told firefighters the toddlers and their grandparents were inside. 

 Prince George’s County Fire Chief, Marc Bashoor said the twins were pulled from the home almost immediately and taken to a children’s hospital, where they died.





The toddlers’ grandparents were pronounced dead at the scene. The other two family members home at the time of the fire escaped safely. “We did the very best we could to get inside to get those people out,” fire department spokesman Mark Brady said.

 The tragedy shocked the Nigerian family’s close circle of friends. “When I heard the [family’s name] I just jumped into my car to come and confirm if it was the same address that I knew,” family friend, Festus Soho said.

“I don’t know what to think of this. I cannot believe it,” family friend, Adele Benjamin said through tears.

The mother of the twins, Elizabeth Omogbo and her husband

 The twins’ mother was too distraught to speak on camera on Tuesday evening. Her uncle, Vincent Omogbo said he was stunned. “It’s like a dream. I don’t believe. My brother was very nice to everybody. He goes to church and he is very godly.”

 The fire appears to have been accidental and is under investigation, officials said.

 Samson Omogbo came to the United States at least 15 years ago from Nigeria after winning a green-card lottery, according to friends and his church pastor. He started a furniture-restoration business and was able to bring his wife and seven children – three sons and four daughters to the United States shortly after his arrival.


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The twins' mother jumped from a second-floor window to escape the blaze, but her injuries are not life-threatening, he said. Two other people escaped the home safely.

There's no sign of a smoke alarm in the house the family was renting, Bashoor said. The cause is under investigation, but so far there's no evidence of anything suspicious he said. Damage is estimated at $250,000.

The last time the county saw this many deaths in one fire was several years ago, Bashoor said. It is particularly tough on the family, community and firefighters when children are lost in a fire, her said. It also comes one year after four children and their grandparents died in a fire at a mansion in Annapolis.

Firefighters plan to return to the neighborhood Tuesday afternoon to knock on doors and check smoke alarms, he said.

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