Ondo woman, four grandchildren die from suspected food poisoning
A devastated man, Ademola Adeola, has called on the Ondo State Government to thoroughly investigate the tragic deaths of his mother and four children, which he claims were caused by food poisoning after they consumed pap, a local cornmeal, in Akure, the state’s capital.
According to The PUNCH, the heart-wrenching incident, which unfolded at Gaga Street, Oke Aro, Akure, has thrown the family into deep mourning.
Mrs. Esther Adeola, Ademola’s mother, and her four grandchildren died between Saturday and Sunday in what the family believes was a case of poisoning.
Reported revealed that Mrs. Esther Adeola was the first to succumb shortly after consuming the pap.
The grandchildren, aged nine, eight, six, and three, fell severely ill and passed away the next day after experiencing intense vomiting and abdominal pain.
Speaking on Tuesday, Ademola recounted the horrific ordeal. He explained that his children became gravely sick immediately after eating the pap on Saturday morning, prompting him to rush them to the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital in Akure. Despite his desperate efforts, none of the children survived.
“They started vomiting and complaining of stomach pain after taking the pap. I rushed them to the General Hospital at UNIMED. One of the doctors asked me how I was sure it was food poisoning and suggested I give them palm oil to drink,” Ademola recalled.
His anguish was compounded by what he described as inadequate treatment at the hospital. He expressed frustration, claiming that the medical staff seemed unsure of the correct course of action to treat his children’s condition.
“I heard one of the doctors say, ‘I don’t know what to give them, I don’t know what to do, I’m tired.’ They later administered some drugs, which I believe were responsible for their deaths,” he lamented.
With the burial of all five victims now concluded, the grief-stricken family is left searching for answers. Ademola is urging authorities to investigate what really caused the deaths and ensure accountability.
In response to the allegations, Dr. Banji Ajaka, the state’s Commissioner for Health, denied any wrongdoing on the part of the hospital, stressing that the medical team, including several consultants, made every possible effort to save the children. He also refuted claims that the hospital lacked proper facilities for treating the victims.
“I was personally at the hospital with them. There were four consultants and other doctors working tirelessly to save the children, but unfortunately, they didn’t make it. It’s untrue that the hospital lacked the necessary facilities to handle such cases,” Dr. Ajaka said.
Although the incident wasn’t officially reported to the police, the Ondo State Police Command confirmed that officers from the B Division have already visited the family’s home to investigate the circumstances.
The command’s spokesperson, Mrs. Funmilayo Odunlami, assured that they were actively looking into the situation.
“The matter was not reported at any police station, but our men have visited the house of the deceased to understand what happened,” she noted.
The family now hopes for justice and closure as they await further investigations into the tragic deaths.
(PUNCH METRO)
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