The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the death of six persons from the same family following a tragic incident in Ogale, Eleme Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
The incident, which occurred on 11 January, 2026, was brought to the attention of the police after a distress call was received from a resident, Godwin Ogosu, who reported that his elder brother, his wife and their children had failed to wake up despite repeated attempts to reach them.
According to the Force spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko on Monday, the family had retired to bed the previous night with their room locked from inside.
Police operatives attached to the Eleme Division promptly arrived at the scene and forced open the door, where they discovered the lifeless bodies of six occupants in the room.
The deceased were identified as Theophilus Obele, 49; his wife, Eunice Obele, 35; their children, Saka, 18; Peace, 14; and Nyimenka, 7, alongside Abel Nwaka, 25.
Preliminary findings by the police indicate that the deaths may have been caused by inhalation of generator fumes, as a power generating set was reportedly left running inside the parlour of the residence overnight.
The bodies have since been evacuated to Last Home Mortuary in Ebubu, Eleme, where post-mortem examinations will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death. The police said photographs were taken at the scene, while investigations into the incident are ongoing.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police (CP), Olugbenga Adepoju, ordered a comprehensive investigation and used the opportunity to warn residents against operating generators in enclosed or poorly ventilated areas.
He advised that generators should always be placed outdoors, far from doors, windows and ventilation points, to prevent the buildup of carbon monoxide.
The Rivers State Police Command expressed its sympathy to the bereaved family and urged members of the public to prioritise safety in the use of power-generating equipment to avoid similar tragedies.
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