Police in Rivers State have confirmed the death of a couple in Port Harcourt, reportedly due to inhaling generator fumes inside their apartment.
The unidentified man and his partner had placed a generator in the passage of their home during a power outage and heavy rainfall, believing it would not affect them in their bedroom.
However, the fumes proved fatal.
A resident, Mr. James, recounted that neighbors became worried when the couple failed to emerge from their room by late Saturday morning.
After repeated knocks went unanswered, they forced entry and discovered the lifeless bodies.
The matter was subsequently reported to the Central Police Station in Port Harcourt.
SP Grace Iringe-Koko, spokesperson for the state police command, confirmed that carbon monoxide poisoning was the cause of death.
The bodies have been moved to a morgue.
Dr. Chinazor Offor, a Port Harcourt-based medical expert, explained that carbon monoxide replaces oxygen in the bloodstream, leading to respiratory and cardiac failure within minutes.
She advised against keeping generators near living spaces and stressed the importance of placing them far from homes to prevent exposure to toxic fumes.
