The sudden death of six members of the Obele family in Ogale, Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, has sparked widespread controversy and raised questions over the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
The incident, which occurred on the night of Saturday, January 11, has left the community in shock and mourning. The deceased include Theophilus Obele, 49; his wife, Eunice, 35; their three children, Saka, 18, Peace, 14, and Nyimenka, 7; as well as an in-law, Abel Nwaka, 25. All six were found lifeless in their home the following day.
The family had returned from Port Harcourt to their hometown in Ogale on January 1 to celebrate the yuletide season, a routine they reportedly observed every year. They spent over a week in the village and were preparing to return to Port Harcourt on Sunday morning.
Theophilus was expected to resume work at Onne Port on Monday, while the children were due to return to school the same day. To assist with packing their belongings, Eunice’s younger brother had joined them, bringing the number of occupants in the house to six.
According to accounts from relatives, the family retired to bed on Saturday night after making final preparations for their journey. However, none of them woke up the next morning, and they were later discovered lifeless in different parts of the house.
The deaths sent shockwaves through Eleme and surrounding communities, with residents struggling to understand how an entire family could die in one night without any immediate explanation. Speculation quickly arose over possible causes, including food poisoning or foul play.
In a preliminary statement, the Rivers State Police Command said initial findings suggested that the deaths may have been caused by inhalation of carbon monoxide fumes from a generator. Police stated that the generator was allegedly left running inside the residence, leading to possible poisoning.
The police also confirmed that the bodies were deposited at a mortuary in Ebubu, Eleme, and that investigations were ongoing, including plans for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
However, members of the extended family have strongly rejected the police’s preliminary conclusion. They argued that the explanation does not align with the layout of the building or the family’s long-standing use of the generator without incident.
According to relatives, the house is a two-bedroom flat with a spacious living room and a balcony at the rear where the generator was kept. They insisted that the generator was positioned at a distance from the bedrooms, making it difficult for fumes to accumulate in sufficient quantity to cause death.
Godwill Ogoso, the younger brother of Theophilus, said the family members were healthy and active on the night before their deaths. He explained that they spent time together until around midnight, discussing their planned return to Port Harcourt.
Godwill said he discovered something was wrong on Sunday afternoon when repeated attempts to contact the family failed. After forcing entry into the locked house, he realised that all six occupants had died.
He expressed confusion over the positions in which the bodies were found, noting that some were in rooms different from where they usually slept. He said these details raised further doubts about the generator fume explanation.
The family also disclosed that there had been a minor land-related dispute involving relatives earlier in the week, which was reportedly resolved at the police station days before the incident. While they stopped short of accusing anyone, they maintained that the deaths warranted a more thorough investigation.
Another brother of the deceased, Elero Obele, said he was away on an errand for Theophilus when he received the devastating news. He said the family lacks the financial resources to independently conduct medical tests and is relying on government intervention for clarity.
Officials from the Rivers State Ministry of Health have reportedly collected samples from the house as part of ongoing investigations. The family has called on authorities to ensure that the autopsy process is transparent and comprehensive.
The Executive Chairman of Eleme Local Government Area, Chief Obarilomate Ollor, visited the family to commiserate with them. He described the incident as painful and shocking, and assured the family that a full investigation would be conducted in collaboration with relevant agencies.
Ollor said medical examinations and autopsy results would help determine the true cause of death and address public concerns. He urged the family to remain calm and united as investigations continue.
As sympathy continues to pour in, residents and observers await the outcome of the official probe. While authorities consider the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning, the family insists that more questions than answers remain surrounding the mysterious deaths of the six family members.
