Tears & Sorrow in Kogi Community as Mother, Three Children, Two Neighbours Die After Eating 'Amala'

Six persons comprising of a mother, three of her children and two of their neighbours, have been killed after consuming a meal made from cassava flour.

Amala dish

 

Speaking exclusively to a Punch correspondent, Abdulhamid Salahudeen, the Public Relations Officer of the Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State, disclosed that no fewer than six persons, comprising a mother, three of her children  and two of their neighbours, were killed in Ogaminana, Okene area of the LG after eating a meal made from cassava flour.

 

It was gathered that three of the victims died on Tuesday one after another at the Okene General Hospital, while the remaining three had earlier died on Monday in the house.

 

The council PRO put the ages of the dead five children at between nine and 15, while the age of the mother had yet to be ascertained, adding that the mother had on Sunday, October 30, brought  the cassava flour from her farm at Ohuepe village.

 

The woman was said to have  prepared dinner from the yam flour for herself  and other members of the family and extended the food  to her neighbours.

 

Salaudeen said the victims later went to bed, but developed severe stomach pains over the night which later resulted in the death of the woman and two of her children.

 

He said neighbours, who sensed that the sudden deaths may be due to the cassava flour dinner, quickly rushed the remaining three children that ate the food to the Okene General Hospital, where they later died.

 

Salaudeen said the authority of the local government believed that the cassava flour was poisoned and had informed the police for investigation.

 

A senior nursing officer at the Okene General Hospital, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said three of the victims died in the hospital on Tuesday.

 

The nurse said the victims were brought in late on Monday.