7 Killed in Anambra Generator Smoke, 4-Day-Old Baby Survives

The Anambra State Police Command confirmed the deaths of a couple, their two children, and others at their home in Nkwele Eznaka, near Onitsha, believed to have been caused by generator exhaust. 

An Onitsha-based trader, his wife, two children, mother-in-law and newly arrived apprentice reportedly died Wednesday after inhaling toxic fumes from a generator. 

Upon learning that the man's wife had just given birth, the man hastily arranged for his family to move to a new house in order to give the woman a surprise gift. 

A local source said it was the family's first night in their new home, adding that only the four-day-old baby survived. 

According to sources, the incident came to light when a friend, who was supposed to attend the celebration that night but could not meet up, visited the deceased's home and found the door locked with the generator running. 

Father Izunna Okonkwo, director of St. Charles Borromeo Hospital in Onitsha, where the victims were taken, also confirmed that only the newborn was in a stable condition when he arrived at the hospital for treatment. 

The middle-aged man, identified as Ifeanyi, hailed from Enugu state and was a trader at the Onitsha Bridge head market, according to people familiar with the matter. 

"The whole family was celebrating at their new villa when suddenly there was a power outage. The man had to switch on the generator on the balcony near his bedroom."

The celebration continued late into the night, with everyone falling asleep and not thinking about turning off the generator. 

The next morning, a friend who was supposed to be at the celebration but had not been able to meet him went to the deceased's house to find the door locked and the generator still running. 

"I knocked for a while and there was no response, so I broke down the door and called other neighbors who saw the corpse. Only the four-day-old baby survived."

"The woman and one of her daughters were unconscious when they were taken to the hospital, but attempts to resuscitate them, including giving them oxygen, failed and they were pronounced dead." 

But Anambra State Police spokesman Tochukwu Ikenga confirmed the situation to Newsmen on Friday, saying police had yet to reveal the truth about her death. 

"This issue is still under investigation and details will be shared once the investigation is complete," he added.  

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