Anthony Iwuoma
All but two members of a family of 24 people in Danzanke village, Sokoto State, have been wiped out after they consumed a meal suspected to have been poisoned.
Sokoto State Commissioner of Health, Ali In name, confirmed that the family mistook a fertiliser chemical, popularly called Gishirin Lalle in Hausa, for seasoning instead of table salt, adding that all efforts by medical personnel to save the situation failed.
Inname said: “Regrettably, the entire family who ate the meal lost their lives, except two female members, who merely tasted the food and are currently responding to treatment, with very good chances of survival.”
“Attempts to save the lives of all the affected people by providing the needed medical care proved abortive.”
The commissioner urged people to carefully check all ingredients and foodstuff before use as well as always avoid keeping storage sites for food items and other agricultural and cosmetic items in the same place.