15 persons were on Saturday feared dead in Aba, Abia state as they inhaled generator fume after an inter-denominational vigil at Young Peoples Christian Fellowship located at No.5 Eziukwu road.
247ureports.com gathered that the victims who were all indigenes of Arochukwu Local Council of the state, had ended the vigil and fell asleep with the generating set still running at the corridor.
As at the time of filing this report, eyewitnesses told our correspondent that out of the 16 persons who were at the vigil, 15 are now receiving treatment in various hospitals, while a 6 year old boy died before police could gain entrance into the vigil centre.
11 persons were currently receiving medical attention at Austine Grace Hospitals while 4 are also admitted at Goodness and Mercies hospital at Faulks road Aba, Abia State.
Addressing journalists, Medical Director of Austin Grace Hospitals, Dr. Mark Iwuagwu attributed the cause of the incident to suffocation as a result of carbon mono-oxide poison they inhaled from a generator set outside the hall where the vigil was held.
According to him, “When I was invited to the place by the police, the generator the used as their source of power supply was still on, but the glasses to the hall were all locked. It was police that came and opened the place with metal equipment. It was one of the victim’s brothers that alerted the police after efforts to reach his sister he took to the fellowship failed to yield any result.”
No member of the fellowship could speak to the press as at the time of the report, but the General- Secretary of pastors from Arochukwu, Dr. Phillip Richard who is also the Senior Pastor Word Alive Assembly, Aba confirmed that the victims were all from Ututu community in Arochukwu.
“They have finished the night vigil and probably left the generator on to use the light for the fans while they were sleeping may be to also chase away mosquitoes not knowing that such a thing is going to happen.”
“I was not there but I had a phone call telling me this morning that the believers from Ututu in Arochukwu who went to pray in a church in Aba had all died. I left all that I was doing to get to the scene of the event. We have a fellowship of believers of Ututu origin in Aba and they came to pray for themselves and their community at this venue.
“But I was not there. They are from various churches and not from one church. The husband and wife whose child died are from my own church,” he said.
The state deputy governor, Col. Emeka Ananaba (rtd) during a visit at the Austine Grace Hospital expresses gratitude to Iwuagwu for his prompt assistance and assured that the state government would ensure that the survivors were given prompt medical attention.
