Mother, two children die after amala meal

From Victor Akinkuolie, Ado-Ekiti
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Odo-Ayedun, in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State was thrown into mourning on Wednesday following the death of a 45- year-old mother and her two children after they  reportedly ate Amala (yam flour).

Though the cause of the incident was sketchy as at the time of filing this report,  The Hope Metro gathered that the husband of the deceased, who is in his 50’s, also ate the yam meal. He is in a critical condition at the  Federal Teaching Hospital in Ido-Ekiti.

It was further  learnt that two dogs which also ate the leftover of the meal have since died, according to eyewitness.

This sad and pathetic incident  was confirmed to journalists  by the lawmaker representing Ikole constituency II at the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Mr. Adeoye  Aribasoye on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti.

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

Recounting the sad scenario to newsmen,  Aribasoye said the flour was made by the mother, which was served to all the family members as dinner.

“After they ate the flour on Saturday ,  the mother and the  two children complained of stomach ache overnight.  They resulted to self medication which led to the death of the mother on Monday and the two children in quick succession between that Monday and Tuesday.

“Before the news of  the deaths were broken to the father, he was already down and  was rushed to Ido-Ekiti Teaching Hospital where he is currently battling with his life.”

The lawmaker who stated that the remote cause of the incident was still unknown, insisted that the larger percentage of the people suspected ‘food poisoning.’

However,  Aribasoye 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 response, the speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Mr. Funminiyi Afuye sympathized with the deceased  family and the entire people of the  constituency over  the tragic incident.

He directed the House Committee on Health to commence investigation into the matter.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti  Command, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu, confirmed the incident.

He said the police will join hands with other institutions to investigate the cause of the deaths.