One person has reportedly died and four were hospitalized after consuming a cassava flour meal in Ogbomoso, Oyo State. Tragically, the granddaughter succumbed to abdominal complications following the meal.
The incident unfolded at the residence of Temidire Atoyebi in the Ogbomoso South/Ogo Oluwa Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Upon receiving a distress call from the affected household along Ogbomoso-Iwo Road that evening, concerned neighbours swiftly transported Mrs. Victoria Paul Adewole (the mother) and the five children to Ogo Oluwa Hospital, located opposite Ogbomoso High School. Regrettably, the granddaughter was declared brought in dead (BID) after being examined at the hospital.
“The mother and four other children were admitted and have since been under intensive medical treatment, “the source said.
She said the initial report was that the family ate Amala dinner prepared from yam or cassava flour.
“However, one of the children disclosed that it was cassava peels that they ground and made into flour which they prepared as Amala since they could not afford to buy yam or cassava flour.
“The complication from the peels which could have been poisoned or contaminated, resulted in the death of the youngest granddaughter, whose immune system might be very low.
“The mother and her other four children are still battling with life in the hospital. We plead with kind-hearted people to please assist the family in whatever way they can so that fatality is no longer recorded among them”, the source pleaded.
The chief medical director of the hospital, Prof. Olawale Olakulehin who confirmed the incident said “The one that gave up died before getting to LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso.
“As of this afternoon, four of the five undergoing treatment are in stable condition. However, one of them is in critical condition. I have just been updated”, the CMD said.
