Police in Arua City is investigating a fire accident under Ayivu East CRB 011/2024 in which a 30 year old man died in a fire accident with his 20 year old wife in a house.
This incident occurred on Tuesday, January 23, at approximately 11 pm in Okuazaku cell, Arivu ward, Ayivu East Division, Arua City. The deceased couple have been identified as Lilian Anguezaru Fungaro, 20, and her husband, Emmanuel Adima, 30.
According to the West Nile Regional Fire Brigade, when they responded to the distress call at 11:43pm, the fire crew rushed to the scene to save the situation, but found that the residential house of one Emmanuel Adima and his wife had already succumbed to the fire.
Although Adima Emmanuel was left in critical condition after sustaining serious burns all over the body, he later died in hospital.
Police inquiries indicated that Adima Emmanuel had just married his 20 year old wife Lillian two weeks ago but he has been involved in an illegal fuel dealership including smuggling fuel from Democratic Republic of Congo.
“On the fateful day, Emmanuel had stored many Jericans of petrol in the house, near the front door. When he lit a matchbox within the house, which was already saturated with petrol fumes, the house caught fire, and his wife Lillian was instantly burned to death. Meanwhile Adima who braved to escape through the fire outside the burning house sustained serious burns allover the body, and he died the next day on January 24th January 2024 after being rushed in critical condition to Arua hospital for treatment,” said the West Nile Regional Police spokesperson Josephine Angucia
Police also noted that smuggling fuel across the DR Congo border has recently become a common criminal activity in the West Nile Region, and the fuel is being stored improperly in homes.
“We caution such illegal dealers in fuel to desist from it as it’s not only unlawful but deadly in terms of fire accidents,” Angucia said.
