A father’s ultimate act of love has ended in heartbreak after a devastating midnight fire claimed both his life and that of his six-year-old daughter in Minna, Niger State, leaving a family shattered and a community in mourning.

The tragedy struck at approximately 2am on March 2, 2026, when fire broke out at the residence of Ikechukwu Michael Njoku, 45, situated within the premises of St. Andrew Anglican Church in the Sabon Gari area of Minna.

According to accounts shared on Facebook by family acquaintance Offor Oscar Onyinye, Njoku was jolted awake by the smell of smoke and the sight of flames rapidly engulfing his home. Without pause for his own safety, he plunged into the inferno to rescue his young daughter, Esther, who was trapped inside the children’s room. Though he managed to pull himself out of the blaze, little Esther did not survive — she died instantly.

Njoku himself emerged from the fire with severe burns across his body. For nearly two weeks, he clung to life, battling his injuries at the IBB Specialist Hospital in Minna. His struggle ended on March 16, 2026, when he succumbed to his wounds — fourteen days after he had thrown himself into the flames for his child.

His wife and three other children survived the inferno but sustained serious injuries and remain hospitalised at IBB Specialist Hospital, where they continue to fight for recovery.

Father and daughter are to be laid to rest on March 27, 2026, in their ancestral hometown of Mebiokpa Okposi Ohozara in Ebonyi State.

“In just one night, a family lost so much — a father gone, a daughter gone, and others left in pain and trauma,” Onyinye wrote in a tribute that has since resonated widely across social media, with many describing Njoku as a hero whose love for his child knew no bounds.

A video making rounds on social media has triggered widespread reactions after capturing a disturbing incident reportedly occurring in Ozoro, Delta State.

According to multiple posts online, there are claims that several women have been ass@ulted in the area during what some users are describing as a local gathering.

There are also warnings being shared online advising women and girls in the area to stay indoors, with concerns that those outside may be at risk. Some posts further allege that individuals who are unaware of the situation, including visitors and students, may have been affected.

Ozoro is home to Delta State University, and many online users have expressed concern about the safety of students and residents.

The situation has triggered widespread outrage, with many calling for urgent attention, proper investigation, and protection for those in the community.

Delta state police command, SP Bright Edafe, said the police has begun arresting some of the defaulting men.

A security expert, Salihu Dantata, has alleged that some Western nations equip bandits to have access to illegal mining in Nigeria.

Dantata made this allegation on Friday while fielding questions in an interview on Arise Television.

He questioned how ISWAP or Boko Haram members know how to handle rifles used by Israeli elite forces.

The security expert added that several times in Zamfara, they had seen helicopters deliver arms to bandits and collect gold in exchange

“We can no longer hide the facts that some of the unscrupulous Western nations are involved in illegal gold mines in Nigeria and illegal tapping of our resources.

“Therefore, for them to have accessibility to this site, they equip some of these bandits and insurgents in some of these states that we are currently battling with insurgency.

“If not, how can ISWAP member or Boko Haram train for one week and know how to handle rifle used by Israeli elite force? That itself exposes the conspiracy.

“A particular super country had predicted that by 2015 Nigeria was going to split. That never came to be,” he said.