Tragedy struck on Wednesday morning when a 65-year old woman and her 12-year old house boy suffocated from charcoal smoke in their apartment in Umuchiana village, Ekwulobia in Anambra State.
The deceased, Obiageli Ezeuboaja and her house boy, identified as Chikamso were fast asleep when they were engulfed in the smoke.
The DAILY VENDOR gathered that the deceased set a charcoal fire in order to warm the room due to cold weather leaving all the windows closed and without ventilation.
Confirming the incident, Police spokesperson, Haruna Mohammed said the charcoal container was recovered as exhibit while corpses were deposited at Ekwulobia hospital mortuary for autopsy.
He added that investigation was ongoing to ascertain circumstances surrounding the incident.
He said, “Today being 15/7/2020 there was a report at Aguata Police Station by one Bernard Ezeuboaja ‘m’ of Umuchiana village, Ekwulobia in Anambra State.
“He said on the same date at about 9:am, he discovered that his wife one Obiageli Ezeuboaja ‘f’ aged 65 years and her house boy one Chikamso ‘m’ surname unknown aged about 12 years never woke up from sleep since the previous night.
“As a result, he opened the door and discovered their lifeless bodies.
“Following the report, Police detectives attached to Aguata division visited the scene and rushed victims to the hospital for medical attention but they were all certified death on arrival by a medical doctor.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the deceased set a charcoal fire in order to warm the room due to cold weather leaving all the windows closed and without ventilation.”
