Poisoned Cassava Peels Claim One Life, Endanger Five Others in Oyo State

A family of six in Oyo State is fighting for survival after they allegedly consumed poisoned cassava peels that they made into Amala, a local delicacy. Naija News reports that the incident occurred on Wednesday, February 27, 2024, in the Temidire Atoyebi area along Ajaawa in Ogbomosho.

The family, comprising a grandmother, Victoria Adewole, her four children and a granddaughter, resorted to using cassava peels as a substitute for yam or cassava flour, which they could not afford. They extracted cassava flour from the peels, which they cooked and ate. However, a few hours later, they started feeling unwell and called for help.

Their neighbours rushed them to a private hospital in the Ogbomoso Baptist High School area, but it was too late for the granddaughter, who died on the way. The rest of the family was later referred to the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital in Ogbomoso, where they are receiving treatment.

According to The Nation, one of the children revealed that they ate cassava peels because they had no other option. He said that the peels might have been contaminated or poisoned, which led to the death of his niece, who had a weak immune system. He appealed to well-wishers to assist the family in any way possible to prevent further loss of lives.

The Chief Medical Director of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Prof. Olawale Olakulehin, confirmed the incident to the press, saying that four of the five survivors are showing signs of improvement, while one is still in critical condition. He also said that another family member died before reaching the hospital.

He advised the public to be careful of what they eat and avoid using cassava peels as food, as they could be harmful to health. He said that the hospital is doing its best to save the lives of the remaining victims.