The Obinze Community in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State was thrown into mourning and confusion Monday, June 6 when a family of 12 were found unconscious.
Four of them were later confirmed dead at the Imo Specialist Hospital, Umuguma where they were rushed to by relations.
The remaining eight members of the family are still lying unconscious at the hospital with prayers and medical care being administered to revive them.
Our correspondent who visited the hospital learnt that doctors and nurses were battling to save the lives of the eight members.
Among the victims is the Chief Driver of Senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo East District, Hon. Uche Onyeagucha.
The Chief Driver identified simply as Kingsley was in his late 40s.
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Other victims are a two-year-old child, a 12-year-old girl and another, an adult whose names could not be obtained as at press time.
Sympathizers and relatives were seen milling around the precincts of the hospital while doctors and nurses were busy working assiduously to save the lives of the victims who are on life support machines.
An indigene of the community told our correspondent that the cause of the death is still shrouded in a mystery to the family and community.
He wondered why a family of 12 could be found unconscious in a room in a duplex that had six rooms.
Hear him; “The head of the family is the Chief Driver of Uche Onyeagucha, the PDP Senatorial candidate for Owerri zone. His name is Kingsley.
“He was supposed to drive his boss to the Sam Mbakwe International Airport this morning but he didn’t pick his phone calls. His boss also called his wife and there was no response.
“Uche Onyeagucha then sent his Personal Assistant to his house. On arrival, nobody opened the gate after all the knocks on the gate. Somebody now scaled the fenced and gained access into the compound.
“Doors were forced open only to discover that the 12 of them were locked in a room. There were all unconscious. Alarm was raised and people gathered.
“There were rushed to this hospital where four including the head of the family were confirmed dead.
“Others are on life support machines. We pray that they make it so that they will tell story of what really happened.
“The 12 of them included the chief driver and his family, siblings and children of his wife who came on a visit.
“The most painful is the death of the two-year-old child. What did that innocent child do? We suspect foul play.”
The spokesperson of the state Police command, CSP Michael Abattam, said that that the incident had not been reported at the police.
