Tragedy has struck in a family of six in the Temidire Atoyebi area of Ogbomoso, Oyo State following the consumption of cassava flakes, popularly known as Amala for dinner which led to the death of the granddaughter as a result of abdominal complication.
The incident which happened on Wednesday night threw the community into confusion.
Distress call from the house located along Ogbomoso-Iwo Road drew the attention of neighbours, who quickly rushed the mother (Mrs Victoria Paul Adewole) and the five children to the Ogo Oluwa Hospital, opposite Ogbomoso High School.
Their condition was so critical according to some sources, that the management of the hospital had to refer them to the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso.
Upon being rushed to the hospital, the grand daughter was rejected having been confirmed to have been brought in dead (BID). The mother and four other children were admitted and have since been under intensive medical treatment, it was gathered.
According to the source who spoke to journalists, the initial report was that the family ate Amala, made from yam flour, for dinner. “However, one of the children managed to disclose that it was cassava peels that they grinded and made into flour which they prepared as Amala, since they could not afford to buy yam or cassava flour.
The complication from the peels which could have been poisoned or contaminated, resulted in the death of the youngest granddaughter, whose immune system might be very low.
“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 source pleaded.
Confirming the incident, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Prof. Olawale Olakulehin, said the incident is true. “The one that gave up died before getting to LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso.
As at 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,” the CMD said.