Tragedy in Enugu as Family of Five Die Mysteriously

Tragedy struck in Enugu last Wednesday when five members of the same family were discovered dead in their house at Amaokpo, Nike, Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State.

The family of Onyekwere Chukwumalu, who hails from Eziowelle, Idemili LGA of Anambra State reportedly went to sleep last Monday night but could not wake up till they were discovered dead on Wednesday morning.

As at the time of filling this report, the cause of their mysterious death was unknown.

According to residents of the area, nobody knew of their death until a co-worker with the late Chukwumalu, a building contractor, visited his home but found the house locked, with his vehicle parked outside.

After several calls with no response, the co-worker had to force open the door, and on entry, discovered the entire members of the family had been lying dead.

The incident reportedly attracted those in the neighbourhood, who went into the house and brought out their corpses, after which the police at Abakpa Nike, Chairman of Enugu East LGA, Hon. Alex Ugwu, and the United Nation rescue mission arrived at the scene.

One of the man's children, Arinze, 10, reportedly showed sight of life as the corpses were being taken to the hospital and was later rushed to the University of Nigeria teaching Hospital, UNTH, Ituku-Ozala, where he is said to be responding to treatment.

Speaking to journalists yesterday at the National Orthopedic Hospital, Enugu, where the corpses of the diseases were kept, the South East Zonal Commander of the United Nations Rescue team, Emmanuel Okoye, said they rushed to the scene of the incident as soon as they got the information.

He however regretted that the police were not on hand to help convey the remains of the family to the hospital.

When contacted, the Chairman of Enugu East LGA, Hon. Alex Ugwu, said it was heartbreaking the way late Chukwumalu died.

He alleged that the late Chukwumalu and his family might have been poisoned since there was no generator to suggest that it could be as a result of its fumes.

"When I heard about the incident, I alerted the police and the Ministry of Health to take charge.  It was when the officials if the Ministry of Health were trying to evacuate the corpse that one of the man's children sneezed and was discovered to be alive and was rushed to the hospital," he said.

Efforts to reach the police for comments on the incident was unsuccessful as the Enugu State Police Command spokesman, Daniel Ndukwe Ekea, said  he was not aware of the incident.