Local beans porridge
Three children of Mr Callistus Egbo, proprietor of Elohim Primary and Secondary School, Agu-Uwani, in Enugu State have died after eating suspected poisonous beans.
The tragedy occurred in Agu-Uwani, Akwuke, Enugu South local government area of the State.
Sources said that the family ate the beans on Tuesday evening and soon after, they fell ill, leading to the death of one child at night.
The other two children died the following day, Wednesday.
It was gathered that the father of the deceased children is also critically ill on admission at a private hospital in Enugu.
Although there is no medical report to establish the cause of death of the three children, it is believed that food poisoning from the contaminated beans is the likely cause of the family’s calamity.
Reports said that this heartbreaking incident has sent shockwaves through the community, especially the concerns about food safety and the importance of proper food handling and inspection.
A family source said that as a result of the tragedy, many people in the community now shun beans and beans-related foods, such as the local Akara and Moi Moi.
“It was indeed a big tragedy that the incident befell the family.
“Since the incident three or four days ago, nobody is eating beans in our area, not even Akara and Moi Moi.
“Go to the Garriki Market and the shops in the streets and see if there is anybody selling Moi Moi or Akara.
“We are praying that the man will not die so that his wife, who travelled at the time they ate the meal will not die.
“May the souls of the departed children rest in peace, and may their father recover soon,” the source said.
There was no official reaction to the incident from the state government and security officials as of time of filing this report.
It would be recalled that this year alone, at least 43 people have died from food poisoning.
Food poisoning deaths have been recorded in Sokoto, Kano, Kogi, Anambra, Nasarawa and Kwara states.
In August, in Eruda community of Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State, a 70-year-old woman, her 34-year-old son and two grandchildren died shortly after eating a yam flour meal (amala).
One week after, in Oshin community, Asa Dam area of Ilorin, a housewife and her three children, all less than 10 years, reportedly died at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital after consuming a suspected poisonous rice meal.
In Sokoto State State, a family of seven reportedly died after eating a cassava delicacy at Runjin Barmo village of Kajiji District in Shagari Local Government Area.
In Kano, a widowed mother and her five kids died from abdominal complication after eating a local delicacy in Karkari village, Gwarzo LGA of the state.
The deceased were said to have consumed Danwake, a local delicacy made from an expired cassava flour.
Sources said that the widow, who was catering for her five children, used expired cassava flour to prepare the meal.
In Kogi State, six family members died in August after eating suspected contaminated cassava flour at Anyoke, Okunchi Ward, in Adavi LGA of the state.
