A devastating incident has struck Ogale Eleme community in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, where six members of a family were discovered lifeless in their home on Sunday afternoon.
Police operatives forced open the locked apartment around 3:00 p.m., following a distress call from a relative who had raised alarm after the occupants failed to wake up.
Spokesperson of the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the tragedy, noting that preliminary findings point to possible carbon monoxide poisoning from a generator left running inside the parlour while the victims slept.
“The Rivers State Police Command is deeply saddened and currently investigating a tragic incident that occurred on January 11, 2026, at about 1500 hours in Ogale Eleme, where six members of a family were found dead in a locked room,” she said.
Victims Identified
The deceased were identified as:
- Theophilus Obele (49)
- Eunice Obele (35)
- Saka Obele (18)
- Peace Obele (14)
- Nyimenka Obele (7)
- Abel Nwaka (25)
Their bodies have been deposited at Last Home Mortuary, Ebubu Eleme, for autopsy, with photographic evidence documented by investigators.
According to Iringe-Koko, the incident was reported by Godwin Ogosu, a family member who noticed that his elder brother, wife, and children had not woken up since the previous night.
Police operatives attached to the Eleme Division swiftly mobilised to the scene, forced entry into the apartment, and discovered the victims.
The Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, has directed a thorough probe into the circumstances surrounding the deaths. He also issued a public advisory on safe generator use.
“Generators should always be placed in well-ventilated outdoor areas, away from doors, windows, and vents, rather than in parlours, garages, or partially enclosed spaces, to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning,” Iringe-Koko quoted him as saying.
The Command extended condolences to the bereaved family and urged residents to adopt strict safety measures to avoid similar tragedies.
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