By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
Residents of Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State and Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State have been thrown into mourning following separate suspected food poisoning incidents that have claimed at least 29 lives.
While five people reportedly died in Okehi after consuming locally processed cassava flour, more than 24 deaths were reported over the weekend in Odigbo and Araromi-Obu communities in Ondo State.
The Ondo State Government has launched an investigation into the incident, with several other victims currently receiving treatment in hospitals.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, said officials of the government were working with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), World Health Organisation (WHO) and other relevant agencies to determine the cause of the deaths.
Ajaka said preliminary reports suggested that the victims might have consumed a locally brewed alcoholic substance, but cautioned against drawing conclusions before laboratory tests were completed.
The commissioner said the exact number of deaths could not yet be confirmed because some victims had already been buried, while others were in mortuaries or still receiving treatment.
He said the affected communities included Odigbo and Araromi-Obu, adding that the government would release further information after the investigation.
Meanwhile, the Kogi State House of Assembly has directed the state government to conduct a thorough investigation into the suspected food poisoning incident in Okehi Local Government Area.
The incident followed the consumption of locally processed cassava flour prepared as uka/amala and soup by nine members of a family on August 19.
According to the lawmaker representing Okehi, Hon. Otokiti Alhassan Zakariya, the victims developed symptoms including abdominal pain, vomiting, convulsion and unconsciousness after consuming the meal.
He said two victims died at home, while three others later died at the Confluence University of Science and Technology Teaching Hospital, Okene, where they were taken for treatment.
Zakariya said preliminary findings by the Kogi State Ministry of Health showed that the cassava flour was processed by the family and was not purchased from the market. He added that the family had consumed the same processed flour previously without experiencing any health problems.
The lawmaker said those who ate the meal twice, on the evening it was prepared and the following morning, developed more severe symptoms, while those who ate it only once reportedly survived.
He disclosed that samples of the leftover food and soup had been collected and sent to the National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau State, for laboratory analysis.
A chemical engineer, Engr. Joshua Adams, who spoke on the incidents, warned that poor food storage and the inappropriate use of chemicals to preserve food or accelerate fruit ripening could expose consumers to serious health risks.
Adams urged Nigerians to desist from using dangerous chemicals on food items or fruits, stressing the need for proper food handling and preservation.
The Kogi Assembly commended Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for his prompt intervention and urged the government to take proactive measures to prevent a recurrence.
The Speaker, Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf, expressed condolences to the affected families and called for urgent steps to strengthen food safety measures across the state.
