Six Die of Suspected Food Poisoning in Kogi State

In a tragic incident in Anyoke, Okunchi Ward, located in the Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State, six individuals have died after allegedly consuming contaminated food. The victims began experiencing severe symptoms, including vomiting and diarrhea, shortly after eating a meal made from cassava flour, commonly known as Amala, last week.

Eight family members who consumed the meal were quickly taken to three different hospitals. Sadly, six of them succumbed to multiple organ failure, while the remaining two have since recovered and been discharged following treatment.

The Kogi State Ministry of Health has responded by forming a committee to investigate the suspected food poisoning. The state’s Commissioner for Health, Hon. AbdulAzzez Adams Adeiza, confirmed that he visited the survivors on Monday and assured that an investigation is underway.

“A specialised team, including state and WHO officials, the Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer (DSNO), and local health officials, has been deployed to probe the outbreak,” Adeiza stated. He also mentioned that samples of the cassava flour have been collected for toxicological analysis in cooperation with the state Ministry of Agriculture.

“The Kogi State Government has assumed responsibility for the victims’ medical expenses and will release the final toxicology report to the public,” he added. “Thankfully, no further cases of similar symptoms have been reported in the household or community.”