A family of four in Kogi State reportedly died mysteriously after eating a cassava flour meal locally known as ‘Amala.’
According to The PUNCH, the incident was reported to have happened in the Mopa-Muro Local Government Area of Kogi State.
It was gathered that the victims died in quick succession between Friday, September 30 and Sunday, October 2.
Pa. Motilewa, the patriarch of the family, his two daughters, and an unnamed female relative all perished.
One of the deceased daughters identified as Motun was a National Certificate of Education holder and teacher in the town. The mother, however, miraculously survived.
The event has left residents of the town and the entire neighbourhood in mourning, fear and confusion, with many calling for an investigation into the death of the family members.
It was learned that the ‘Amala’ meal was made by reusing the cassava flour from the ‘Fufu’ that the family had already eaten. The treated shafts were supposedly dried in the sun for several days.
After the flakes dried, they were ground into a fine powder to make ‘Amala,’ which they ate on Thursday night before turning in for the night.
An eyewitness reported that the victims became sick overnight and efforts were made to stabilise them. Unfortunately, the youngest member of the family passed away on Friday, quickly followed on Saturday by the relation living with the family.
With the sudden passage, the others were moved to the highly rated ECWA Hospital, Egbe, for better medical attention.
Sadly, the eldest of the daughters, Motun, gave up the ghost at about 3:00am Sunday. The father also died later the same Sunday.
At the time of filing this report, the mother, identified as Molomo, was still alive in the hospital and under close observation.
Members of the community are said to suspect foul play in the sudden death and have, therefore, suspended the burial for proper investigations to unravel the cause of their deaths.
“We are shocked. I have never seen a thing like this. We suspect that someone may have poisoned the food. For what? We cannot tell. I’m confused and in pains. This is too much to bear,” a relative lamented.
