The Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Funminiyi Afuye, on Thursday directed the House Committee on Health to begin an investigation into the deaths of a 45-year-old woman and her two children aged 12 and 14 after eating yam flour in Odo-Ayedun Ekiti in Ikole Local Government Area of the state.
The woman’s husband, who is in his 50’s, is also said to be in a critical state at the Federal Teaching Hospital in Ido Ekiti, as doctors are still battling to save his life.
Eyewitnesses said two dogs that also ate the yam flour have died.
Afuye, who spoke at the plenary session of the Assembly, in response to a member representing Ikole Constitutency II, Adeoye Aribasoye, who brought the matter to the notice of the House, sympathized with the family of the deceased and people of the constituency over the tragic incident.
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Aribasoye had called for sympathy and investigation into the matter.
The lawmaker told journalists that “the flour, which was made by the mother, was served to all the family members as dinner.
“After they ate the flour on Saturday, the mother and the two children complained of stomach ache overnight and they resorted to self-medication which led to the death of the mother on Monday and the two children in quick succession between that Monday and Tuesday.
“Before news of the deaths were broken to the father, he was already down and the father was rushed to FETHI, where he is currently battling for his life,” the lawmaker said.
Aribasoye, who said the remote cause of the incident was still unknown, insisted that the larger percentage of people suspected food poisoning.
The lawmaker lamented the poor health facilities at the health centre in Odo Ayedun community, which could have been a veritable avenue for them to receive first aid.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti State Command, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu, confirmed the incident, saying they would join hands with other institutions to investigate the cause of the deaths. [PUNCH]
