From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
A couple has died in a home explosion in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, local reports say. The victims have been identified as George and Chioma Buchi. Chioma is the younger sister of popular afrobeats singer Patoranking.
The incident occurred at their residence on Water Works Road in the capital city. The couple built their residence newly in the area.
There are there three different accounts on the incident. While some said the explosion was caused by solar light battery inverter, some said it was caused by a gas cylinder while some alleged that an object was planted in the compound.
One of the neighbours of the couple, Nwokporo Victor Uchechukwu, said: “It happened in my street. We only heard the sound of an explosion in the afternoon. When we rushed to the compound, smoke was coming out of the new building with all the electronics spoilt, including the ceiling, doors, and windows damaged with glasses.
“At first we thought it was a gas cylinder explosion. No be any inverter, Na Only God knows what was implanted in that house. It sounded like a bomb.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Joshua Ukandu, confirmed the incident.
He noted that there was an explosion in the house of the couple which caused them serious injuries and they were taking to the hospital for treatment.
“They have been in the hospital, the wife died first. She is the sister of Partoranking. Her husband now died yesterday September 11, ,2024.
“I have not confirmed what led to the incident, whether it was a battery inverter or a gas cylinder in the house. We don’t have any confirmed facts about it.
“Investigation is ongoing now for it and I will have to call our people investigating it to find out what they have on the preliminary finding in it,” he told Daily Sun.
The couple left behind a 3-year-old son. The child was reportedly with his grandmother at the time of the incident.
