The deaths of a couple, their two children, and other people at their home in Nkwele Ezunaka, Onitsha, have been confirmed by the Anambra State Police Command.
According to reports, the man, his wife, two children, mother-in-law, and an apprentice passed away on Wednesday after breathing in poisonous fumes from a generator.
City Round learned that the man’s wife had recently given birth, so as a surprise gift for her, he set up the family’s relocation to their new home.
It was the family’s first night in their new home, according to local sources, who also stated that only the four-day-old baby survived.
According to the source, the incident came to light when a friend who had been invited to join them for the celebration that evening but was unable to do so went to the house and saw that the doors were locked and the generator was still running.
He said, “The entire family was celebrating in their new home when there was an unexpected power outage. The man started the generator that was set up on the verandah just outside the bedroom.
“The party went on into the night, but nobody remembered to turn off the generator as they all fell asleep. A friend who was supposed to attend the celebration with them but was unable to do so went to the deceased’s home the following morning and found the doors locked and the generator still running.
“After knocking for a while without receiving a response, he alerted his neighbors. They forced the door open and discovered the dead bodies inside; the four-day-old baby was the only one to survive.
When they were taken to the hospital, the wife and one of the daughters were still unresponsive. Despite efforts to revive them, including giving them oxygen, they were later declared dead.
Rev. Fr. Izunna Okonkwo, the manager of St. Charles Borromeo Hospital in Onitsha, where the victims were taken after being rushed there, confirmed that only the newborn child had survived.
According to sources, the middle-aged man, who went by the name Ifeanyi, was a trader at the Onitsha Bridge Head Market and was from Enugu State.
Tochukwu Ikenga, a spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, who also confirmed the incident to our correspondent on Friday, said investigators were still trying to determine what caused the tragedy.
“The matter is still being investigated, and the details will be communicated as soon as investigation is concluded,” he added.
