By Olaitan Ibrahim
Tragedy struck the family of Nigerian singer Patoranking as his sister, Chioma Onuabuchi, and her husband, George, were laid to rest in their hometown, Uburu, Ebonyi State.
The burial, which took place amid tears and grief, followed a fatal gas explosion that claimed their lives in their Abakaliki home.
The incident, which occurred on September 11, 2024, left the community in shock.
A neighbour, Nwokporo Victor Uchechukwu, recounted the chilling moment: “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. The ceiling, doors, and windows were damaged, and it sounded like a bomb. At first, we thought it was a gas cylinder or maybe an inverter. Only God knows what was implanted in that house.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Joshua Ukandu, confirmed the incident.
He stated that the explosion caused serious injuries to the couple, who were rushed to the hospital for treatment.
Tragically, Chioma succumbed to her injuries first, followed by her husband.
“They have been in the hospital; the wife died first. She is the sister of Patoranking. Her husband died yesterday, September 11, 2024. We are still investigating the cause of the explosion, whether it was a battery inverter or a gas cylinder. We don’t have any confirmed facts yet,” DSP Ukandu explained.
The couple left behind a three-year-old son, who fortunately was with his grandmother at the time of the incident.