Family Of 5 Die After Eating Soup Prepared With Fertilizer
In a tragic incident in Sokoto State, a family of five lost their lives after mistakenly consuming soup prepared with fertilizer, which they believed to be monosodium glutamate seasoning (locally known as Farin Maggi).
The incident occurred in Kaurar Wanke village, Shagari Local Government Area, on Thursday, with the victims succumbing to the effects by Sunday.
The State Commissioner for Health, Hajiya Asabe Balarabe, confirmed the heartbreaking news on Monday, explaining that the family had prepared a local soup using the fertilizer, mistaking it for the common seasoning powder.
Three of the victims passed away on Friday, while the remaining two died on Sunday at the Sokoto Specialist Hospital in the presence of the commissioner.
Two additional victims who also consumed the tainted soup are currently receiving treatment at the Sokoto Specialist Hospital. The commissioner, who was away in Abuja on official business when the incident was reported, immediately ordered the relevant health officials to take urgent action in an attempt to save the victims’ lives. Despite these efforts, the toxic substance had already caused irreversible damage to their organs, leading to the fatalities.
Commissioner Balarabe urged the public to take extreme caution when storing poisonous and chemical substances, advising that they should be kept far away from kitchens and separate from food items to prevent similar tragedies.
A relative of the victims, Muhammad Abdullahi, expressed his gratitude for the swift response from the commissioner and her team, acknowledging their dedication from the time of the incident in the village through to the hospital. He also praised their continuous support during the family’s time of need.
Dr. Attahiru Sokoto, the Chief Medical Director of Sokoto Specialist Hospital, described the incident as a deeply unfortunate tragedy, underscoring the need for increased awareness and preventive measures to avoid such occurrences in the future.
