Six people, including a mother, three of her
children and two of their neighbours died
on Tuesday, Nov. 1st, in Ogaminana area
of Okene in Kogi State after eating a meal
made from cassava flour.
The Public Relations Officer of the Adavi
Local Government, Mr Abdulhamid
Salahudeen, who confirmed the tragic
incident said that three of the victims died
on Tuesday at the Okene General Hospital
while the woman and two of her children
had earlier died on Monday in their house.
The woman died along side three of her
children; two sons and a daughter while
two male children of her neighbour, who
also ate the food also died. The children
are aged between 9 and 15 years.
Giving further details, Salaudeen said that
the mother had on Sunday evening, Oct. 30
brought the cassava flour ( white Amala)
from her farmland at Ohuepe village, which
she used to prepare dinner for her family
and gave some of the food to her
neighbour. The victims developed severe
stomach pain hours later and died.
He said that neighbours who sensed that
the sudden deaths might be due to the
cassava flour dinner quickly rushed the
remaining three children that partook in the
eating to Okene General Hospital where
they died on Tuesday.
Salaudeen said that the authority of the
local government believed that the cassava
flour was poisoned and had informed the
police for appropriate action. A senior
nursing officer at the Okene General
Hospital, who spoke on condition of
anonymity, confirmed the death of the
three victims at the hospital.
Meanwhile, Kogi State Governor, Alhaji
Yahaya Bello has appealed for calm
following the incident. Apart from the
ongoing police investigation, the governor
said health officials are also investigating
the matter.
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