Food poison: Husband blames UNIMEDTH over wife, four children’s death

A middle-aged man, Adeola Ademola, who lost five of his seven family members after consuming poisonous pap and fish in Akure, the state capital, has called on the State Government to investigate the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

Ademola, who lost his 68-year-old mother and four children after they consumed liquid pap at their home on Gaga Street, Oke Aro, Akure, last Saturday, expressed disappointment with the service provided by personnel at the state hospital and their failure to resuscitate the victims.

According to a family source, the grandmother, who was a caterer, and four of her grandchildren died after eating a meal suspected to have been poisoned or contaminated. The source added that two of the grandchildren are still receiving treatment in the hospital.

The source expressed concern over the failure of the state police and government to launch an investigation into the incident.

Speaking on Tuesday, Ademola recounted how the children drank the pap early on Saturday and began vomiting and complaining of stomach pain. They were then rushed to the State General Hospital.

According to him, all efforts to revive the victims at the University of Medical Science Teaching Hospital in Akure failed due to a lack of facilities.

Ademola said his children, aged nine, eight, six, and three, all died within 24 hours.

He said, “After they took the pap, I noticed they started vomiting and complaining of stomach pain, so I rushed them to the General Hospital Akure, UNIMED.

“One of the doctors asked me how I was sure the children were poisoned. He told me to give them palm oil to drink.

“I overheard the doctor saying he didn’t know what to give them. I didn’t know what to do—I was tired. But later, they gave them some drugs, and I believe it was the drugs that killed them.”

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The bereaved father insisted that his children and their grandmother died due to the negligence of the doctor. He confirmed that all the deceased have been buried.

Responding to the situation, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Ajaka, denied the allegations that the victims died due to negligence at UNIMEDTH.

He stated, “The doctors and consultants at the hospital did their best to save the victims. I was there with them at the hospital. There were four consultants and other doctors trying to save the lives of the children, but unfortunately, they died.”

He added, “It is not true that the hospital lacked the facilities to handle such cases. It is not the doctors’ fault—it’s a tragic incident. I pray that God gives the family the strength to bear this loss.”

The State Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Funmilayo Odunlami, mentioned that the case was not officially reported at any police station, but officers from the state command visited the residence to investigate the cause of the deaths.

“The matter was not reported at any police station, but our men from B Division have visited the deceased’s house to gather information on what happened,” the PPRO stated.