Suffocation: Emekuku seven buried in one grave

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

OWERRI – Seven of the family of nine who died after burying their mother at Emekuku, Owerri North Local Government Area  of Imo State, were weekend buried in one long grave.

Speaking during a requiem mass for the departed souls, the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, His Grace, Dr. Anthony J.V. Obinna, described the burial of seven people from the same family as not only strange but also horrible.

The Catholic cleric said. “Though the gathering is a sad one, it is out of love for the deceased persons and for the relatives that we are here. We must remind ourselves of the reality of death.”

He said the false rumour that trailed the death of the Emekuku Nine portrayed lack of faith and unnecessary fear of death.

“Christians must be wise, as well as realize that some opportunistic persons in society cash in on moments of temptation and tension to get what they want.

“There are lots of 419 spiritual people, who use the opportunity of poor faith to do business, thus creating problems in families,” Obinna said.

He read out portions of the autopsy report released by the State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Joe Obi-Njoku, which confirmed that the nine persons died from suffocation after inhaling carbon monoxide from a generating set.

Meanwhile, the state government has issued clear directives on the use of electric generating sets, pointing out that to avoid a repeat of the ugly incident, families should build generator houses away from living rooms.