The Abia State Government has appealed for calm over the death of one Sunday Ugba, a deacon in the Assemblies of God Church.
He died on Monday night, along with six other people, in his home in Umuahia.
Ugba and the others, including four children that came on holiday in his house, died after taking suya and fruit juice.
His wife was rushed unconscious to the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, where she is currently receiving medical treatment.
Reacting to the incident in a statement issued in Umuahia on Tuesday, the Commissioner for Information, Chief Okiyi Kalu, advised relatives of the deceased persons to remain calm.
Kalu stated that the Abia government had contacted all the relevant agencies to investigate the incident.
“We wish to call for calm and patience to enable the relevant medical authorities to properly determine the cause of the death of the seven persons,” he stated.
The commissioner conveyed the condolences of the state government to the relations and friends of the deceased.
Meanwhile, the Spokesman for the Abia Police Command, SP Geoffrey Ogbonna, said the command had “commenced investigation into the sad incident”.
Ogbonna, however, said that no arrest had been made, adding that “investigation is ongoing to ascertain the actual cause of the death”.
He appealed to the public, especially relations and friends of the deceased, to assist the command with useful information that could help it get to the root of the incident.
