The Rivers State Police Command has commenced an investigation into the tragic death of a family of six in Ogale community, Eleme Local Government Area of the state, after they allegedly inhaled fumes from a generator set.
The victims, said to include both parents and their children, were reportedly found lifeless on Sunday after the generator had been running throughout the night and into the morning.
A community source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that neighbours became alarmed after noticing unusual silence from the household. The family, the source added, had been making preparations to return to Port Harcourt following the holiday period before the tragedy struck.
“They were found dead in different positions inside the house. It is a very unfortunate incident, and we are calling on the police to carry out a thorough investigation,” the source said.
The incident first came to public attention through a Facebook post by a user identified as Destiny John, who described the occurrence as a “black Sunday,” lamenting that all six members of the family died suddenly without any known illness.
Confirming the development on Monday afternoon, the spokesperson of the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said preliminary information indicated that the generator was kept inside the living room.
“From the information I got, the generator was inside the living room because they were afraid it would be stolen,” she said, adding that investigations into the incident were ongoing.
The police have urged residents to observe safety precautions when using power-generating equipment, as authorities work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
