6 die after cassava flour meal in Kwara

Yekini Jimoh, Ilorin - 01.07.2009

IT was tragic day in Nimgurumi town in the Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State on Monday when six people lost their lives after eating cassava flour meal suspected to have been poisoned.

Also, four people are now receiving medical attention at a private hospital located in the town as a result of the incident. Nigerian Tribune gathered that the incident occurred following the crisis between two families over a parcel of land in the town. According to the information, one of the families was said to have spread the cassava flour in front of their house so as to get it dried for consumption but unknown to them, one of the neighbours was allegedly said to have put a substance suspected to be poisonous into the cassava flour

Source close to the town said that the unsuspecting family was reported to have prepared the cassava flour which resulted in the death of some members of the family

When contacted on Tuesday, the state police command who confirmed the development, said the command had commenced investigation into the incident.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Dabo Ezekiel, who spoke with newsmen in Ilorin on Tuesday said that as soon as the detailed report on the incident was ready the command will make it available to the public.

Also speaking on the food poisoning on Tuesday, the state Commissioner for Health, Hajia Ayinke Saka who also confirmed the development in Ilorin said that the incident was as a result of land problem between two families.

She said that one of the families spread their cassava flour outside where it was allegedly poisoned by the neighbour.