A tragic incident has struck the village of Karkari in Gwarzo Local Government Area of Kano State, as a widow and her five children have died after consuming a local delicacy made from expired cassava flour. The Kano State Police Command has confirmed the heartbreaking event, which has left the community in deep mourning.
The victims, identified as Alhakatu Abdulkarim and her children—Bashir, Firdausi, Hafsat, Usman, and Jamilu—fell ill after eating Danwake, a traditional Hausa dish. The food had been prepared using expired flour, leading to a severe reaction that resulted in the death of all six family members.
According to SP Abdullahi Haruna, the Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Police Command, the family members were rushed to Gwarzo General Hospital after consuming the meal. Despite efforts to save them, doctors at the hospital confirmed that all six had tragically passed away.
The police have launched an investigation to determine the precise cause of death, with a medical report from the hospital expected to shed more light on the incident. “We are still waiting for the medical report from the hospital to ascertain the cause of the death of the six persons,” SP Haruna stated.
The incident, which occurred last Thursday, has shocked the local community. Alhakatu Abdulkarim, a widow who was solely responsible for the care of her five children, had unknowingly used expired cassava flour in the preparation of the meal. This tragic mistake has left the family, and indeed the entire community, devastated.
Local authorities have urged the public to be vigilant about the quality of food they consume, especially in rural areas where access to fresh food supplies may be limited. The deaths of Alhakatu Abdulkarim and her children serve as a somber reminder of the potential dangers of consuming expired food products.
As the investigation continues, the community of Karkari mourns the loss of a mother and her children, who have been taken in such a tragic and preventable manner.
