Four male youths in Bayelsa State have been confirmed dead after allegedly consuming an overdose of substances suspected to be hard drugs while another survived.
The spokesman for the state Police Command, Asinim Butswat, on Friday, said in a statement that the youths were found dead in a rented apartment around Biogbolo-Epie area of Yenagoa.
He stated that the deceased were confirmed dead in a hospital on Thursday.
The statement identified the deceased as Favour Ekezie, Favour Okorie, Waripamo Bestman Ejele, and Richie Mike Prezi; while the survivor was identified as Onisoya Owei.
The survivor was reportedly revived by the hospital.
The statement read in part, “On 1st December 2022 at about 1600 hours, one Kemebigha Gesiye ‘m’ of Biogbolo community reported that he went to his tenants apartment in his compound and discovered about five of them lying unconscious.
“They were quickly rushed to the hospital where four were confirmed dead, namely: One Favour Ekezie,19 years old, Favour Okorie 18 years old, Waripamo Bestman Ejele, 25 years old and Richie Mike Prezi, 21 years old. All were males. One was revived.
“The survivor, one Onisoya Owei, said they took an overdose of hard drugs which led to the situation.
“The corpses have been deposited at the mortuary for autopsy. Investigation is ongoing.”
But another account said that the victims might have been poisoned through the food they ordered, and delivered to them by a dispatch rider.
Reports quoted one Melvin, who claimed to be a friend of one of the deceased, as stating that the survivor was alive because he did not eat the food.
He said, “We believe that they were poisoned. We gathered that they ate food they ordered, which was delivered by a logistics motorbike, and they died. One of them survived because he did not eat from the meal.”
