By Suleiman Mustapha
A family of five died have reportedly died in a Sokoto village after consuming soup prepared with fertilizer mistaken for Monosodium Glutamate Seasoning substance known in Hausa as (Farin Maggi).
The tragic incident happened in Kaurar Wanke village of Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto State on Thursday but the victims died on Sunday.
The State Commissioner for Health, Hajiya Asabe Balarabe, confirmed the incident, saying the tragedy occurred when the five victims consumed the locally prepared soup, with substance, mistakenly for seasoning monosodium glutamate (Farin Maggi).
According to the commissioner, three of the victims died on Friday while the remaining two died in her presence at Sokoto Specialist Hospital on Sunday.
She said two more victims are currently receiving medication at Sokoto Specialist Hospital at press time.
The commissioner further explained that upon receiving the report while away in Abuja for official engagement, she directed the immediate dispatch of the directors concerned to act with urgency on the matter with a view to saving lives.
According to the commissioner, despite frantic effort by the ministry officials to save lives of the affected victims, the substance consumed had already neutralised their body organs, resulting in their untimely death.
The commissioner advised people to keep all poisonous and chemical substances far away from kitchens separate from foodstuffs where children may lay their hands.
A relation of the victims, Muhammad Abdullahi, thanked the commissioner for her concern and timely intervention.
The Chief Medical Director of Sokoto Specialist Hospital, Dr. Attahiru Sokoto described the incident as unfortunate.
This sad incident followed the death of a middle -aged woman and her five children after eating spoilt Danwake, a local Hausa delicacy in Karkari village, in Kano state on Sunday.
Spokesman of the command in Kano state, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa confirmed the incident on Sunday.
He said the six members of the family were rushed to Gwarzo General Hospital where they were confirmed dead by doctors.
