The National Drugs Law and Enforcement Agency have uncovered the cause of the strange ailment which claimed lives in Kano.

According to the agency, harmful chemical sold as citric acid also known as Dan Sanmi, was the source of the illness, which claimed not less than four lives and got over 300 persons hospitalised.

NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, made the confirmation in Kano, on Tuesday, shortly after she had an audience, with Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, at the State Government House.

Professor Adeyeye, who claimed that the chemical was allegedly smuggled into the country through unidentifiable sources and sold by local vendors for N3,000 against the N30,000 market value of such product.

“Before now, the agro-chemical that was supposed to be Dansanmi is used to make drinks sour, but it is not the chemical used but poison, that led to the death of three persons I believe and some others, who had various illnesses.

“Three of the flavoured drinks were not registered, with NAFDAC, only two were registered. Something that is supposed to be bought at N30,000 was being bought at N3,000, while some others sell do sell it at the rate of N10,000.”

While noting that three out of the five sampled products were not registered, with the agency, Adeyeye promised that a comprehensive report of the laboratory test would be aannounced as soon as investigations were completed.