Mr Chibuzo Ikwunze, father of the four children who were among the seven persons confirmed dead after eating Suya and Juice in Umueze Umuahia North LGA, has called on the State Government, philanthropists and well meaning Nigerians to come to his aid to enable him offset mortuary bills of his late children.
Narrating the incident to Newsmen in company of his wife, at their Umukonu Umuagu Ohuhu, country home in Umuahia North LGA, Mr Ikwunze, an artisan, said he has officially reported the incident to the police while plans are underway to conduct an autopsy to determine the real cause of the deaths.
He disclosed that prior to the unfortunate incident,his four children;Kelechi Chibuzo (M) aged 12, Chimdi Chibuzo (M) 10, Oluomachi Chibuzo(F) 8, and Kingsley Chibuzo (M) 3yrs were regular guests of the Ogba’s in Umueze were they usually spent their holiday season.
He said the Late Mr Sunday Ogba, who hails from Apañu Item, Bende LGA, has been a close family friend for the past 20 years as both families had lived together at number 17 Ozuitem street extension before the Ogba’s relocated to their own house in Umueze.
According to Mr Ikwunze, the late Mr Sunday Ogba, had on Tuesday 24th August, brought home the fruit Juice and the suya which later led to the deaths of three Members of the Ogba family and four members of the Ikwunze’s the following day.
He said; “It was on Thursday last two weeks that my friend called Mr Sunday Ogba (Late) requested me to bring my children at his residence in Umueze for a holiday just as my children normally do after school period which I did on Friday last two weeks.
“The late Sunday and i have known ourselves for the past 20 years having lived together at number 17 Ozuitem street extension before he built his own house at Umueze. He hails from Apañu Item in Bende LGA.
“I and my wife were coming back from my workshop in Umuahia town, when we saw Mr Sunday Ogba buying suya at Uwalaka by Okigwe road in Umuahia but before we could get to him, he drove off with his car.
“It was the following day, 25th being Wednesday, which I would prefer to call Black Wednesday that I received a call that the man, Sunday Ogba is dead,I couldn’t believe. I called my wife who was preparing to go for August meeting, she equally expressed disbelief and suggested that we immediately go to their residence in Umueze and find out things for ourselves.
“I summoned courage and called back the person who informed me of the sad news to get more details and was told that my four children were also dead.
“On hearing that, we rushed to Umueze where we met a mammoth crowd including the Nigerian Police and it was there I confirmed that my four children were no more.
“Information that I got from one of the surviving relation of the late Sunday Ogba, who happens to be his daughter, said her father brought the Suya and three packets of Juice out of which one was given to my kids to share, the other was given to the man’s children to share while the late Sunday consumed the remaining one with his wife.
“She said that after consuming the Suya and Fruit Juice, my children requested for boiled yam which was cooked and equally consumed with red oil by the entire household.
“I was told that my second child starting crying, complaining of dizziness and later started vomiting of which the wife of the deceased Sunday cleaned up her vomit. After that, other members of the family started reacting the same way and had to drink palm oil. Mrs Ogba Sunday from what i heard slumped at the passage on her way to take her bath and the following morning it was discovered that members of their family including my children were all dead.
“I am calling on the State Government, well meaning Nigerians and philanthropists to come to my aid in assisting me financially, as the situation is bigger than me”.
National Ambassador investigations reveal late Sunday Ogba’s wife, Mrs Jessey, and their daughter survived the incident while the police are currently carrying out investigations to determine the actual cause of death of the seven persons who lost their lives.
