Owerri- No fewer than thirteen persons on Monday were rushed to the Specialists hospital Umuguma in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo state after they were found lying helplessly in a room and were taken to hospital where about five were allegedly confirmed dead from the hospital at the time of filing this report.
Vanguard got different versions of the account of eyewitnesses on what may have led to the unfortunate incident which happened in a room in Obokwu/Umuekpu village in Obinze, Owerri West LGA in the State.
However, the health professionals were still making serious efforts to resuscitate those who were still breathing at press time.
Just like a youth leader of the community from the area, Ejike Oparanozie, who confirmed the ugly development to newsmen described it as a mystery.
To this extent, eyewitnesses who spoke to Vanguard were seen struggling to link the cause of the death to food poisoning, generator fumes, anger from the gods, and inhaling of dangerous substances among others.
One of the villagers, who introduced himself as Mr Eddy, who said they were about 13 in the room, linked the incident to ”It is food poisoning but I hear some people are still saying it is generator fumes but the generator is far from the room where the thing happened.”
Another person, who pleaded not to mention his name, urged the “villagers to consult the chief priest of the area for an explanation of the mysterious death that befell the people of the community. I am sure they will get answers to the questions people have been asking.”
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However, one of the victims happened to be the Chief Driver of the Imo East Senatorial Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Uche Onyegucha, whose name was identified as Kingsley Oguzie, alongside some of the members of his family who were involved in the unfortunate incident.
The Imo state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Micheal Abattam, said that investigation would be carried out.