By Bashir Idris Opaluwa
The Kogi State House of Assembly has commended Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for his prompt response to the suspected food poisoning incident in Okehi Local Government Area.
The commendation followed a Matter of Urgent Public Importance presented on the floor of the House by the member representing Okehi Constituency, Otokiti Alhassan Zakariya.
Zakariya told the House that nine persons consumed locally processed cassava flour prepared as Uka or Amala with soup on the evening of August 19, 2026.
According to him, some of the victims ate the leftover meal the following morning, after which they developed symptoms including abdominal pain, vomiting, convulsion and unconsciousness.
He said two victims died at home, while three others died at the Confluence University of Science and Technology Teaching Hospital, Okene.
The lawmaker explained that preliminary findings by the State Ministry of Health showed that the cassava flour was locally processed by the family and not purchased from the market, noting that the family had consumed the same product in the past without any incident.
He further noted that those who ate the meal twice – on the evening it was prepared and the following morning – developed more severe symptoms and died, while those who ate it only once survived with less severe symptoms.
Zakariya disclosed that samples of the leftover food and soup have been collected and sent to the National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau State, for laboratory analysis.
He said the State Government is awaiting the result of the analysis to guide further public health action.
In his remarks, the Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly, Alhaji Aliyu Umar Yusuf, sympathized with the bereaved families.
The Speaker said the House should go beyond commending the Government and take proactive steps to prevent a recurrence of such incident.
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