A disturbing case of suspected poisoning has left residents of Abakaliki in shock, following the sudden deaths of a man and a young boy believed to be his stepson. The incident occurred at a residence near Ebebe Junction in the Ebonyi State capital.
The deceased man, identified locally as “Uncle Light,” reportedly started living with a woman believed to be his partner after she separated from her former husband last year. According to neighbors, the pair lived quietly until the tragic turn of events early Friday morning.
Eyewitnesses say both victims showed signs of distress believed to be linked to food consumption. One resident, who spoke anonymously, stated, “We found the boy lying by the gate and the man unconscious inside the house. They both appeared to have vomited before losing consciousness.”
Another neighbor reported that the woman was seen leaving the house early in the morning with her infant and has not returned since. “She left them behind, and shortly after, they started showing strange symptoms,” the source said.
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Ebonyi State Police Command, Mr. Joshua Ukandu, said the command was not initially informed about the incident but has since dispatched officers to investigate.
Police later arrived at the scene along with a man who claimed to be the brother of the woman allegedly involved. According to him, his sister was also experiencing health issues and is now in custody while receiving medical attention.
A different eyewitness recounted hearing loud voices in the middle of the night but initially assumed it was a religious gathering. “We heard shouting but didn’t think much of it until morning when we saw the boy asking for water before collapsing,” the resident said.
As of the time of reporting, both bodies have been removed from the scene by the police for autopsy and further examination. Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of death and whether foul play is involved.
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