The decomposing bodies of five members of the same family were discovered in their residence at Umuimo, Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area of Abia State on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. The victims were identified as the father, Mr. Kachi Nnabugwu, his wife, Mrs. Chinaza Nnabugwu, and their three children.
Discovery by neighbours after days of absence
The family was last seen alive by neighbours and other community members on Saturday, July 18. Their sudden absence began to raise concerns within the community. After several days without any sight of the household members, residents decided to check on them. On Tuesday morning, July 21, they forced entry into the house and discovered the five lifeless bodies in an advanced state of decomposition.
Containers of leftover food and a generator set were reportedly found inside the building. The exact cause of death has not yet been determined, but authorities have not ruled out possible carbon monoxide poisoning from the generator.
Police confirm incident and launch investigation
The Police Public Relations Officer of Abia State Police Command, DSP Maureen Chinaka, confirmed the incident on Wednesday, July 22. She stated: “Yes, the attention of the Osisioma Divisional Police Headquarters was drawn to the incident on 22/07/2026 by the brother of the deceased who reported that after being unable to reach Kachi Nnabugwu, they proceeded to his residence at Umuimo Village, Osisioma LGA. Upon arrival, repeated knocks yielded no response. They subsequently forced entry into the house, where they discovered the lifeless and decomposing bodies of their brother and his family. The crime scene has been visited. A preliminary visual inspection of the bodies was conducted, and photographs taken. The corpses have been deposited at the morgue for preservation and autopsy.”
Community performs traditional rites
A video shared online shows community members performing traditional rites following the incident. The bodies have been evacuated from the compound and taken to the mortuary pending autopsy results. The police have launched an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths, including whether the generator was a factor. Neighbours reported that the family had been using the generator due to power outages in the area. The tragic incident has left the community in shock and mourning.
