Two young lovers have reportedly died from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning after allegedly inhaling generator fumes while asleep in their apartment in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.
The deceased were identified as Miss Favour Uduak Smith and her boyfriend, whose identity had yet to be confirmed as of the time of filing this report.
The incident reportedly occurred yesterday night at their apartment on Poultry Farm Road in Calabar South Local Government Area, where residents said the couple had only recently moved in.
According to neighbours, the male occupant switched on a generator following a power outage and allegedly left it inside the room before the couple went to bed.
A resident, who identified himself as Akong, said the generator ran throughout the night, filling the room with deadly carbon monoxide fumes.
“He moved into the house recently and, because there was no electricity on Thursday night, he switched on his generator and kept it inside the room while they slept. By morning, both of them could not wake up,” the resident said.
Akong added that a puppy recently purchased by the couple also died after inhaling the fumes.
The bodies of the deceased were later evacuated to a mortuary, while neighbours reportedly buried the dead puppy within the compound.
Efforts to get an official reaction from the police were unsuccessful, as the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Ewa Etta Sunday, did not respond to calls and messages as of the time of filing this report.