Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
The Police in Ebonyi have confirmed that a couple, Mr George Obasi and Mrs Chioma Obasi died in Abakaliki after a gas explosion in their residence.
It said contrary to rumors of inverter explosion or dynamite, preliminary investigation by its officers indicates that it was a gas explosion.
The late Chioma is said to be the sister of popular Afrobeats singer, Patoranking.
The couple were said to have suffered serious injuries from the explosion which happened recently at their residence in Abakaliki, capital of the state.
After the explosion, the couple were rushed to an undisclosed hospital in Abakaliki by neighbours where they have been receiving treatment.
However, Chioma succumbed to her injuries as she died five days after the incident.
The husband, George also succumbed to his own injuries as he died yesterday, sources close to the family told Ikengaonline.
The couple left behind a 3-year-old son who was said to be upstairs watching cartoons with his father’s phone when the explosion happened.
There have been conflicting reports on the cause of the explosion that led to the couple’s death.
While some claimed it was an inverter battery explosion, others alleged that it was gas explosion while a third claim had said it was a dynamite planted by enemies of the couple.
The latter theory has gained traction on social media following reports that the couple had recently celebrated the completion of their new mansion, leading to suspicions of foul play.
A neighbour who spoke on the issue contended that the blast was a bomb explosion as it damaged almost every thing on the ground flour of the building.
He said: “They were my neighbours. We only heard sound of explosion on Sunday afternoon. When we rushed to the compound smoke was coming out of the new building with all the electronics spoiled including the ceiling, doors and windows damaged with glasses.
“At first we thought it was gas cylinder explosion. It is not any inverter, it is only God that knows what was implanted in that house. It sounded like a bomb,” he said.
The Police in the state however debunked the allegation of a dynamite or inverter blast attributing the incident to gas explosion.
Spokesperson of the command, Joshua Ukandu, stated this while speaking to our reporter.
“Preliminary investigation shows that it was a gas explosion. It is suspected that probably there was a gas leakage and they opened the door and maybe a small spark ignited it,” he said.
