Number Of People Killed By Amala In Kogi Rises To nine

The acting Chief Medical Director at the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, Dr Olatunde Alabi on Thursday told newsmen that three more people have died from eating the ‘poisoned’ cassava flour meal in Okene, Kogi State..

Alabi said that three victims of the cassava flour meal were rushed to the hospital in critical condition on Wednesday morning from Ogaminana, Adavi Local Government Area, but two of them, a 42-year-old woman and a 10-year-old boy, died Thursday morning.
Alabi, who said that the boy died at about 4 a.m, while the woman gave up the ghost at about 10 a.m., also said that the third victim, a girl of about 13 years, is in critical condition.
The chief medical director confirmed that seven people actually died between Monday and Tuesday, and not six as speculated.
According to him, the cause of the deaths was yet to be ascertained but the hospital was suspecting cyanide poison from the cassava meal.
He said:

“Clinically, we are saying we are suspecting cyanide poison.”

He said that the hospital staff did their best to save their lives but the worst still happened.