Priscilla Ofunre, Ado-Ekiti
A 45-year-old mother and her two children were reported to have died in Odo Ayedun-Ekiti in Ikole Local Government Area after consuming yam flour.
The Nigerian Xpress learnt that the deceased woman’s husband, who is in his 50s, is also in a critical state at the Federal Teaching Hospital in Ido-Ekiti (FETHI), Ekiti State, as doctors are still battling to save his life as a result of suspected food poisoning.
Two dogs, which also ate the flour, were said to have died, according to eyewitness.
The older of the children was 14 while the other was 12.
The tragic incident was confirmed to newsmen by the lawmaker representing Ikole constituency II at the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Adeoye Aribasoye, in Ado-Ekiti, on Thursday.
Earlier, Aribasoye had raised the issue at the plenary of the House where he called for sympathy and investigation into the matter.
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Recounting the sordid scenario to newsmen, Aribasoye said the flour was prepared 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 and 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 deaths were broken to the father, he was already down and the father was rushed to FETHI, who is currently battling with his life”.
According to Aribasoye, the remote cause of the incident is still unknown, but 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 could have been a veritable avenue for them to receive first aid.
In his response, the speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Funminiyi Afuye, sympathised with the deceased’s 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 Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti State Command, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu, confirmed the incident.
He said the Police would join hands with other institutions to investigate the cause of the deaths.