Ondo man seeks probe as mother, four children die after meal

An Ondo-based man, Mr Ademola Adeola, has called on the state government to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of his mother and four children following alleged food poisoning.

His mother, Mrs. Esther Adeola, and four grandchildren reportedly died after drinking liquid pap at home in Oke Aro Akure, Ondo State, on Saturday.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the grandmother first gave up the ghost after taking the pap while the grandchildren died the following day.

Speaking on the matter on Tuesday, Adeola told PUNCH Metro that the children drank the pap early on Saturday after which they started vomiting and complaining of stomach ache.
According to him, all efforts to revive the deceased at the University of Medical Science Teaching Hospital in Akure, failed for lack of facilities to resuscitate the victims at the hospital.

Adeola said the late children were aged nine years, eight, six and three years.

He said, “After taking the pap, I observed that they started vomiting and complaining of stomach. So, I rushed them to the General Hospital, Akure. One of the doctors asked me how I was sure the children were poisoned. He said I should go and give them palm oil to drink.
“I heard him say, ‘I don’t know what to give them. I don’t know what to do, I’m tired.’ Later, they gave them some drugs and I believe, it was the drugs that killed them.”

The bereaved father noted that all the deceased had been buried.

In a reaction, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, denied the allegations that the victims died out of the negligence of the doctors at the UNIMEDTH, saying the doctors and consultants did their best to revive the victims.

He said, “I was with them at the hospital, there were four consultants and other doctors trying to save the lives of the children but unfortunately, they died. So, it is not true that the hospital lacks the facility to tackle such a case. It is not the fault of the doctors It is unfortunate this happened. I pray to God to give the family the fortitude to bear the loss.”

The Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Funmilayo Odunlami, said the case was not reported officially at the police station but that the men of the command had visited the deceased’s residence to have an idea of the issues that led to the unfortunate death.

“The matter was not reported at any police station, but our men in B Division have visited the house of the deceased to know what actually happened,” the PPRO stated.