Tragedy struck in Runjin Barmo village, located in the Kajiji District of Shagari Local Government Area in Sokoto State, as seven members of the same family reportedly died after consuming a contaminated cassava-based meal.
The heartbreaking incident was confirmed in a statement released by Nura Bello, the Information Officer of the Sokoto State Ministry of Health, on behalf of the State Commissioner for Health, Hajiya Asabe Balarabe, on Sunday evening.
According to the statement, the village head, Malam Muhammadu Modi, narrated the tragic events to the Commissioner when she led a delegation to the affected community. The deceased family members include Malam Abubakar, his wife A’ishatu Abubakar, and their five children. The family consumed the suspected contaminated cassava during their dinner last Wednesday.
“The exact cause of the deaths has yet to be confirmed,” said Malam Muhammadu Modi. He further noted that the same batch of cassava had been used by four other households in the village, none of whom reported any cases of illness, raising concerns and questions about the specific cause of the tragedy.
The village head expressed gratitude on behalf of the community to the Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, for his prompt response and concern over the tragic incident.
During her visit, Commissioner Hajiya Asabe Balarabe conveyed her condolences to the grieving community. She assured them that the state government was taking the incident seriously and would conduct a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of the deaths. The ministry plans to collect samples from a teenager who survived after consuming the same meal, which could provide crucial insights into the cause of the poisoning.
The Commissioner also urged residents of the state to remain vigilant and to promptly report any unusual health occurrences to the Ministry of Health. “Early reporting can facilitate swift intervention and possibly prevent future tragedies,” she emphasized.
The Sokoto State government, through its health ministry, is expected to take necessary actions based on the findings of the ongoing investigation, to ensure such an incident does not recur.
