Shock as four family members die ‘in their sleep’ in Enugu

Shock has enveloped the Amaeze Owerre community, in Nsukka Local Government Area (LGA), Enugu State, over the death of four family members in their sleep.

The Guardian gathered that the family members, who went to bed last Saturday, died in their sleep.

The traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Emeka Ugwu, expressed shock and sadness over the incident, describing it as a tragedy.

Those who died were a mother, two of her daughters, and a granddaughter.

The monarch, who was close to tears while reacting to the incident, said: “Everybody in Amaeze community is still in shock over this tragic incident that took the lives of four family members.

He said: “We have not witnessed anything like this in the history of our community. We are making efforts to determine what could have led to this tragedy.

“The community may seek spiritual guidance to uncover the cause of this mysterious tragic incident.”

He disclosed that a grandson, about 18 years old, who survived the incident, has been responding to treatment in one of the hospitals in Nsukka town.

Ugwu explained that the matter was reported to the Nsukka Police Division, who immediately sent officers to rush the only survivor to the hospital and deposit the four lifeless bodies in the mortuary for autopsy and further investigations.

A senior police officer in the Nsukka Police Division, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed the incident and said that the four lifeless bodies had been deposited in a hospital in Nsukka town as investigations have started to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident.

He disclosed that the only survivor of the incident is still receiving treatment in a hospital in Nsukka town.

He said that although the cause of the death of the four had not been ascertained, external attack might be ruled out as the door of the house was bolted from the inside.

“Since the door of the house was locked or bolted from the inside, external attack may be ruled out,” he said.