One dies, 5 others in critical condition as family consumes contaminated cassava flour in Ogbomosho

One person has died and 5 others are fighting for their lives after consuming Amala, allegedly prepared with contaminated cassava flour instead of yam flour, in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

The incident occurred on Wednesday night, Feb. 28, at Temidire Atoyebi area along Ajaawa Road in Ogbomoso.

The family consists of a grandmother identified as Mrs. Victoria Paul Adewole, her four children, and a granddaughter.

The family ate the food and became uncomfortable a few hours later and their cry for help alerted neighbors who rushed in and took them to a private hospital at Ogbomoso Baptist High School area, where the granddaughter reportedly died.

They were later taken to Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital in Ogbomoso where medical personnel are presently battling to save the lives of the remaining family members.

A source who asked not to be named said, "One of the children managed to disclose 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 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 Chief Medical Director of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Professor Olawale Olakulehin, confirmed the incident. He added that four out of the five remaining family members are responding to treatment in the hospital.

He said Thursday, Feb. 29: "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."