Tragedy struck in the sleepy town of Umunneukwu ,in Eziokwe Amuri community of Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu state last Thursday, when seven members of one family reportedly died in their sleep after celebrating a traditional feast.
Informed sources told THISDAY that the seven members of the family who lost their lives in the mysterious incident were the family head, Mr. Sunday Eneh, his wife and two children as well as his aged mother and two cousins.

Sympathizers from the village and neighbouring towns who thronged the Eneh family compound Friday morning following the alarm raised by some neighbours who had discovered the lifeless bodies could not believe what they saw as they wept uncontrollably just as the entire village was thrown into confusion.

Sources said, Mr. Afemefuna Eneh, elder brother of the deceased, who rushed from his Enugu residence to the village after he was alerted of the ugly development on phone, said the cause of their death could not be immediately ascertained even though some people feared that their mysterious death may not be unconnected with the inhalation of carbon-monoxide from their generator.

He stated that his elder brother had on Thursday evening celebrated a traditional feast in which he killed a fowl to appease their late father after which the family members went to bed hale and hearty.
His words: “After I was called on phone by our relations, I rushed to the village and on getting to their room I saw all members of the family lying down. They were all dead. I saw the generator which they said was on that night but I don’t think that their death was caused by generator fumes”.

“The family had been living a healthy life until Thursday night and there was a kind of traditional feast my elder brother (Sunday) celebrated in which he killed a fowl to appease our late father. That was celebrated Thursday night and everybody went to bed thereafter but the next morning (Friday) all members of the family could not wake up from their bed and nobody can explain what really happened for now. It is very pathetic.”

The Chief Medical Director of Agbani District Hospital , Dr. Alphonsus Eze, certified the bodies dead before they were taken to a mortuary at Agbani. He however stated that autopsy investigations would commence without delay in order to assist in unraveling the cause of the sudden death of the family of seven.

The Police Public Relations Officer for Enugu State Command, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu confirmed the incident saying the police had commenced investigations to unravel the mystery surrounding their death.