Mother, Two Children Die after Eating Cassava Meal in Ekiti

Ekiti State community has been thrown into a mourning mood as a 45- year old mother and her two children reportedly died in Odo-Ayedun Ekiti in Ikole Local Government Area after eating cassava flour.

Their father, who is in his 50s, is also in a critical state at the  Federal Teaching Hospital in Ido Ekiti, as doctors are still battling to save his life as a result of suspected food poisoning.

Two dogs which also ate the flour were said to have died, according to an eyewitness.

The eldest of the late children was 14 while the younger one was 12.

The pathetic story was confirmed to journalists by the lawmaker representing Ikole constituency II in the state House of Assembly, Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, in Ado Ekiti yesterday.

Earlier, Aribasoye had raised the issue at the plenary of the assembly where he called for sympathy and investigation into the matter.

Recounting the shocking development to journalists, Aribasoye said the flour meal was made by the mother, which was served to all the family members as dinner.

According to him, "After they ate the meal last Saturday,  the mother and the two children complained of stomach ache overnight, and they resorted to self-medication which led to the death of the mother last Monday and the two children in quick succession between that Monday and Tuesday.

"Before the news of their deaths was broken to their father, he was already down and was rushed to the hospital, where he is currently battling with his life."

Aribasoye said the remote cause of the incident is still unknown, but insisted that the larger percentage of the people around suspected it might be food poison.

However, the lawmaker has lamented the poor health facilities at the health centre in Odo Ayedun community, which he said could have been a veritable avenue for them to receive first aid.

In his reaction, the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Funminiyi Afuye, sympathised with the deceased family and the people of the constituency over the tragic incident.

He directed the assembly committee on health to commence an investigation into the matter.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu, confirmed the incident, saying the police will join hands with other institutions to investigate the cause of the deaths.