No fewer than 29 persons have died in three weeks in food-related incidents across northern Nigeria, WikkiTimes analysis reveals.
WikkiTimes reports that incidents occurred in Kano, Zamfara, Gombe, Kwara and Sokoto States over the past few weeks, which affected children, men, and women, which led to their tragic ending.
This alarming data depicts the vulnerability of the people particularly in the light of food insecurity in the country.
On August 18, 12 individuals from Daki Takwas, Anka Local Government Area of Zamafara state lost their lives after consuming a soup made from molokhia leaves, locally known as ‘Lalo’ (in Hausa), which was reportedly contaminated with pesticides.
In Gombe State, a person died on August 1, 2024, after eating boiled cassava, marking another case in the series of food-related fatalities. 10 others survived after being hospitalised.
WikkiTimes aslo reports that six people including a mother and her five children died in Karki village, Gwarzo Local Government Area of Kano State after consuming a local delicacy called Dan Wake. Police in kano has since launched an investigation into the cuase of the deaths.
On 17 August, in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, four members of a family, including a mother and three children, reportedly died after eating rice suspected to be contaminated.
In another incident, a mother and her five children died in Sokoto State after allegedly consuming soup that was prepared with Gishirin lalle (a substance used for henna) as seasoning.
Food Insecurity
These incidents have raised serious concerns about food insecurity and the need for immediate intervention by relevant authorities to prevent further loss of lives.
Hunger and general economic hardship have forced Nigerians into the streets where they protested for 10 days earlier in August against bad governance.
President Tinubu’s one year in office has made policy decisions such as floating the Naira and removal of fuel subsidy which are considered extreme to the common Nigerian.
