Seven family members who reportedly drank pap popular known as “Akamu” made from corn in Egba community of Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State have been hospitalized.
A widow identified as Amina Isah alongside her four children and two grandchildren were the victims of the alleged food poisoning.
It was gathered that the widow and her family members were vomiting after taking pap and were immediately rushed to a private clinic in the area known as Gana Clinic.
It was learnt that the victims were in a the state of coma before they were taken to the hospital to receive treatment.
The incident was further confirmed by the proprietor of the clinic, Dr Oyaje Sule.
Sule said three of the patients including the widow were brought into the clinic unconscious.
He said that the family unknowingly used the remnants of guinea corn that had already been mixed with chemicals for planting to make the pap.
Sule admitted that the victims were in a critical condition, stressing that the woman is well known in the community.
”Their age ranges from three to 30 years aside of their grandmother who is elderly. As at the time they were brought, the woman and two others were unconscious but thank God they have been revived.
”What I was told is that the family had mixed chemical with guinea corn they were to plant, after planting the guinea corn, the remaining was brought home and they washed and ground it to make pap.
”It was after they took the pap this morning that they started vomiting and some of them were unconscious before they were rushed to my clinic,” Sule said.
The victims were identified as Benjamin, Piko, Esther, Hassan Emmanuel and one other.
Benue State Command Police Spokesperson, SP. Catherine Anene, could not be reach for comment at the time of this report.
