Mother and her four children die of suspected food poisoning in Anambra

A mother and her four children have d!ed from suspected food poisoning at Abubor Nnewichi community, in the Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The victims, who hailed from the Okwuchukwu family in the Ihiala Local Government Area of the state but resided in Nnewi, d!ed after taking their dinner on Monday, July 29, 2024. 

An eyewitness and family source who spoke with Punch on Wednesday, July 31, said the victims identified as Onyinye, mother; Miracle; Dominion; Amanda and Kosi, children, d!ed before they could be rushed to the hospital.

According to the source, their father, who was not around when the incident happened, was rushed to the hospital after suffering a shock on returning home to meet members of his family lying lifeless.

“A mother and her four children d!ed after consuming a meal that was their dinner. We do not know what the real food was because they had finished eating it before the incident happened. But from the appearance of the remnants from the plates, it looked like a cassava meal,” the source said. 

“Their father is battling to survive at a hospital where he was rushed to, as he was in terrible shock on getting home, even though he did not eat the ‘killer food.

“It was a rude shock and sad development to the community. The case has been reported to the police station in the area and the bodies of the victims have been recovered and deposited at the morgue,” he said.

It was gathered that two other siblings of the family, a boy and a girl, escaped death as they were in the village and not living with their parents in Nnewi.

It was further learnt that the food that caused the d@ath of the victims was being subjected to an investigation because while some alleged it was a takeaway they brought in from outside, others said they ate cassava food they prepared in their home.

The spokesperson of the State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, has confirmed the incident. 

“Yes, it is a case of sudden and unnatural death reported to the command. The bodies of the victims have been recovered and preserved in the morgue for autopsy in a follow-up to unravel the circumstances surrounding their deaths. It involves a woman and her four children. Further details shall be communicated,” he said.