A mother and her four children are burnt to death in a fire outbreak at their residence in Okochiri community, Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The incident happens on Friday morning, with the exact cause of the fire yet to be established.

A source says the fire may have started when someone attempted to pour petrol into a jerrycan, causing the fuel to ignite.

The fuel is also suspected to have been contaminated.

The Civilian Joint Task Force Commander in Okrika, Igwe Godswill, confirms that the bodies of the mother and her four children are found at the scene.

Local youths reportedly put out the fire before emergency responders arrived.

The Rivers State Police Command also confirms the incident, saying the mother and three of her children died, while other occupants of the building sustained injuries.

Police say property worth thousands of naira was destroyed in the fire, as investigations continue to determine the immediate and remote causes of the incident.