No fewer than seven persons from the same family in the Runjin Barmo village of Kajiji District in the Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto have reportedly died as a result of consumption of contaminated cassava delicacy.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Information Officer, Sokoto State Ministry of Health, Nura Bello, on behalf of the Commissioner for Health, Hajiya Asabe Balarabe, on Sunday evening.

The statement revealed that the village head of the community, Malam Muhammadu Modi while narrating the incident to the Balarabe who led a powerful delegation to the area, said the victims consumed the cassava meal during their dinner.

According to him, “The victims comprised the father, Malam Abubakar, his wife, A’ishatu Abubakar and their five children.

“The incident happened last Wednesday and the cause of the death is actually yet to be confirmed.

“He said this was because the suspected cassava had been used by about four houses in the village and no case of illness was recorded in those houses.”

The statement further said the village head on behalf of the residents thanked the state governor, Dr Ahmed Aliyu, for showing his concern to them in that direction.

In her remarks, Balarabe said they were in the village to assess the cause of the incident for onward communication to the state government for necessary action.

The commissioner said the ministry would take samples from one teenager who happened to be alive after eating the suspected cassava meal.

On behalf of the state governor, she condoled with the people over the incident and prayed to Allah to forgive those who lost their lives.

She used the opportunity to call on people to ensure prompt reporting of any strange disease in their domains for the ministry’s intervention.

In his remarks, the Director of Health for Shagari Local Government Area, Sani Bello Tambuwal, thanked the commissioner for her concern and hoped the effort would be sustained.

The commissioner was accompanied on the visit by the Executive Director, the State Hospital Services Management Board, Dr Bello Abubakar Attahiru, some directors and other staff members of the ministry.

PUNCH