Patoranking Sister, Husband Died In Ebonyi Explosion

An explosion that occurred in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, killed a husband and wife in their home.

The victims were identified as George and Chioma Buchi who lived in the Water Works Road area.

According to reports, the woman, Chioma was the younger sister of Afrobeat singer, Patoranking.

There were different accounts of the fire incident. One account attributed the explosion to solar light battery inverter, another said it was caused by a gas cylinder, yet another account claimed 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 destroyed, including the ceiling, doors, and windows damaged with glass.

“At first we thought it was a gas cylinder explosion. Or maybe any inverter; 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 said there was an explosion in the house of the couple, which caused them serious injuries, and they were taken 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.

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“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,” the PPRO said.

The couple was said to have left behind a 3-year-old son.