Tears as 11 Family Members Die After Eating Food in Benue

• A piece of news that would be described as a tragic loss is the death of an entire family in the Ikobi community in Apa LGA of Benue State
• This is as about eleven family members reportedly died after eating food said to have contained harmful chemicals
• Meanwhile, the Benue state police command confirmed the unfortunate incident as its spokesperson noted investigation into the mysterious death is ongoing

Eleven family members have reportedly died of food poisoning in Ikobi community in Apa Local Government Area of Benue state.

Villagers alleged that the family members died after they were suspected to have consumed food contaminated with harmful chemicals.

The victims

The 11 victims have been identified simply as; Adi Ale, Ochefije Ojo, Maria Ojo, Aipu Ochefije, Aboyi Ngbede Ochefije, Mary Ochoyoda, Ehi Abu, Blessing Abu, Peace Ochoyoda, Ojochono Daniel and Favour Edoh.

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Daily Trust reported that while six of the victims died in one day, the remaining five died a few days after.

One of the bereaved family members, Ochoyoda Abu, lost his wife (Mary), two sisters (Ehi and Blessing) and a daughter (Peace).

The traditional ruler confirmed the development

Professor Mohammed Adah, the traditional ruler of Ikobi community, told our correspondent on the telephone that a similar incident had happened in September.

He said suspicion about food poisoning heightened when five of the victims died the same day in the community, adding that experts were invited from the state’s Ministry of Health to investigate the cause of deaths.

Adah said the results of the investigations were yet to be made available to the community.

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More details unfold

It was learned that there were those who also took ill after eating the food and were taken to hospitals. They were said to they have since recovered and returned home.

State Epidemiologist, Dr. Sam Ngishe, did not respond to calls put to his telephone for comments about the investigation on the matter at the time of filing this report.

Police react

But, police public relations officer (PPRO), SP Catherine Anene, said the victims died last Monday, November 14, adding that seven of the victims were confirmed dead in one day alone.

Anene said,

“About three months ago, somebody died in that particular house so on the 14th of this month, a woman went to the house, cleaned the house and removed the foodstuffs from there which she prepared and 12 people ate and suffered stomach ache.

“Seven people died that same day and five were taken to the hospital and they survived. Investigation ongoing.”

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Family of 6 dies after eating meal in top southeast state

In a related development, a man, identified as Augustine Nwokedi, his wife, and four children have died after eating dinner in Ozubulu, Anambra State.

It was gathered that the incident happened on October 4, 2022, and the bodies of the deceased were said to have been discovered in their apartment by their neighbours.

A source in the area said the death happened after the family had taken their dinner and gone to bed, but were discovered dead the next morning.

Just in: Tears as former deputy governor dies after being rushed to hospital in southeast state

In another report, Ebere Udeagu, a former Deputy governor of Imo state, died at the age of 79 on Monday, October 10.

Udeagu, who served as a deputy governor of the state between 1999 and 2007, died in the early hours of Monday in Owerri, the state capital.

Udeagu’s last public appearance was on October 1, 2022, during the 62nd Independence Day anniversary in Owerri.

Source: Legit.ng