7 Family Members Die Of Food Poisoning In Sokoto

In a tragic event that has sent shockwaves through a rural community in Sokoto State, north-west Nigeria, seven members of a single family lost their lives after consuming what was supposed to be a routine meal. The state's Ministry of Health has launched a thorough investigation into the incident, which has raised serious concerns about food safety and public health in the region.

The calamity struck after the family ate a traditional dish made from cassava, a staple food in many Nigerian households. The meal, locally known as Dambu and Lalo, was prepared for dinner. What began as a normal evening soon turned into a nightmare as family members began to fall ill just hours after consuming the food. By the next morning, the mother, Aishatu Abubakar, and one of her children had succumbed to the mysterious illness. The remaining children who survived the night were rushed to nearby health facilities, but despite medical efforts, they too passed away, leaving only five survivors from the family of twelve.

The state's epidemiologist, Nuhu Dogodaji, revealed that the Ministry of Health has collected various samples for testing. These include the remnants of the meal, the utensils used, and blood samples from the surviving family members who consumed the food but did not fall ill. The samples have been sent to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for rigorous testing at their laboratory in Kaduna State, with additional blood samples being transferred to the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

Dogodaji provided a chilling account of how the tragedy unfolded, noting that the discomfort began around 7 pm, and within three hours, the first child had died. The mother succumbed by 5 am, and the rest followed shortly after in various health facilities, where they were taken for treatment but tragically could not be saved.

While initial suspicions pointed towards the cassava as the source of contamination, further investigations by the Ministry have suggested that the actual culprit may have been the ingredients used to prepare the Lalo soup, which accompanied the cassava dish. This theory is supported by the fact that three other members of the household, who consumed the same batch of cassava with different soups, did not experience any symptoms of poisoning.

Adding another layer of complexity to the case, the cassava in question was purchased in bulk and shared among four households in the community. Interestingly, the other families who consumed the same cassava did not suffer the same fate, further isolating the Lalo soup as the potential source of the deadly contamination.

The state's Commissioner for Health, Asabe Balarabe, has ordered that every aspect of this tragic event be meticulously examined. One teenager, who miraculously survived after eating the same meal, has become a critical piece of the investigation, with his samples being analyzed to uncover how he withstood the poisoning that claimed the lives of his family members.

This heartbreaking incident has left a community in mourning and raised urgent questions about food safety practices, particularly in rural areas where access to healthcare and proper food storage can be limited. As the investigation continues, the government and health authorities are under pressure to ensure that such a tragedy does not happen again.