Delta State Police Command is combing everywhere to unravel the circumstances surrounding the mysterious death of four persons, three males and one female, in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
Their lifeless bodies were found in the living room of a two-bedroom apartment at Rich Man Garden Estate, behind Anglican Girls Grammar School, Asaba.
Although the deceased were yet to be known, their ages were said to range between 20 and 27.
The State Commissioner of Police, Hafiz Inuwa, while confirming the incident, said the cause of their death was still unknown.
The fifth victim, Maxwell, who was unconscious was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, where he was revived and placed on oxygen.
Sources said the victims moved into the apartment only on Tuesday.
Inuwa expressed the hope that if the unconscious victim would survive, he might assist operatives to know what caused the death.
He, however, assured that an autopsy would be conducted on the bodies of the deceased.
At the estate, residents expressed shock over the incident, saying that a power generating set that worked from Tuesday night to about noon on Wednesday might have been responsible for their death.
According to one of the neighbours who claimed to have assisted in evacuating the corpses, the generator was at the balcony hence the mystery surrounding their deaths.
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“I went in there to assist in the evacuation and I counted five persons, four boys and one girl. One of the boys was still alive, but in critical condition.
“I did not find drugs or related substances. All of them were sitting in the parlour at the time we entered,” the source said.
Another concerned resident said they were worried that after over 24 hours, nobody came out of the apartment, and that the generator was not turned on the following evening.
“This created suspicion. So, at dawn, we invited the police to come and check what was amiss. It was when the police opened the door that we found the lifeless bodies of four persons,” he said.
Another neighbour, who identified himself as Odogwu, said other occupants of the building raised concerns over the well-being of the new tenants when they did not come out of their flat, even when rains had soaked their belongings.
“At night, we discovered that even when it rained on their belongings, they did not come out. Then, we knew all was not well, because no sane person will leave his properties under the rain when he can take them inside.
“This morning, we became worried that they did not care for their properties and that was why we invited the police so that we can ascertain if all was well behind the closed door,” Odogwu said.
The landlord of the building, Onuoha Okonji, said he was surprised to discover that four more persons had joined the original tenant, who he identified as Maxwell from Ozoro, adding that he was baffled when he got a distressed call about the tragedy.
Okonji said Maxwell was introduced to him by an agent, adding that they concluded transactions before the said Maxwell moved in.
Chairman of the estate, Clement Okafor, suspected that the victims might have died due to prolonged inhaling of carbon monoxide from the generator.
