Bolorunduro village in Ondo State was thrown into mourning last Wednesday when a family of five died after eating amala (yam flour). The names of the deceased were given as Michael Onoja,56; his wife, Comfort 42, Monday, 24; Patience, 21; and the eight-year-old grandchild, Joy Odoh.
A police source told our correspondent that when Onoja returned from his farm on the fateful day, he instructed his daughter, Patience, to prepare amala for the family to eat.
The source said, “Some hours after the meal, Joy, who was spending the holidays with the family started complaining of stomach pain and shortly after, slumped. She died later at a nearby government hospital.”
It was learnt that the little girl was buried the following day.
The source said, “Few hours after Joy was buried, other members of the family started having stomach pains and were rushed to the hospital. It was at the hospital that Onoja told his neighbours that the family ate amala, and that they had not eaten any other food after that. He and the family members died one after the other shortly after that.”
The source said the corpse of the deceased had been deposited at the mortuary of the state Specialist Hospital, Akure while autopsy had yet to be conducted.
Meanwhile, Public Relations Officer of the state police command, Mr, Aremu Adeniran, said the police had commenced investigation into the incident.
He said, “The matter had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in order to ensure proper investigation.”
Source:Punch Newspaper