Amala Meal Tragedy: Kogi Widow Loses Husband, Two Children, Narrates Escape

A harrowing account has emerged from a widow in Kogi State, detailing how she narrowly survived while her husband and two children tragically passed away after consuming amala. The incident, which occurred in Ohuepe, Okehi Local Government Area, saw the three family members succumb to suspected poisoning on August 14, 2026, just two days after eating the cassava flour-based meal.

Known as Mama Rahama, the grieving widow shared her ordeal, explaining that she only survived because she ate a small portion of the amala. Her four-year-old son, Mikail, also escaped the fate of his family members as he refused to eat the meal. Mama Rahama recounted purchasing the cassava flour from a local market and personally preparing the amala for her family's dinner. She stated that after the meal, everyone went to bed, but by the next day, those who had consumed it began experiencing severe weakness.

“Except my four-year-old last born, Mikail, who refused to eat the food, my husband, Rahama, Rabiyat, Samad, Senani and Haliru ate the amala for dinner,” she disclosed. According to Mama Rahama, her husband and two children, Rabiyat and Samad, consumed more of the food. She, however, took only a small quantity due to a poor appetite, having recently been discharged from the hospital. “I could only take a little because I had poor appetite and had just been discharged from hospital,” she added.

The situation rapidly deteriorated the following day, with those who ate the meal developing intense weakness, vomiting, and stomach pains. “As the situation became worse, four of us were rushed to Ado Ozuka Hospital in Ogaminana,” Mama Rahama narrated. “But Rabiyat di£d, followed by Samad and later my husband, all within a few hours on the same day.” Mama Rahama has since been discharged from the hospital and has appealed to the Kogi State Government and well-meaning individuals for support for her surviving family members.

This tragedy was closely followed by another similar incident in Ikoyi, Ihima, where four children reportedly died after consuming a meal prepared from cassava flour. Residents indicated that nine individuals from two different families ate the meal last Thursday evening, with some even consuming leftovers the next morning. Al-Hassan Idris, a resident, reported that those affected began experiencing weakness, which progressed to stooling and vomiting blood. “Before noon, all of them who ate the food were gripped with body weakness, which later turned into stooling and vomiting of blood at the critical stage. They were rushed to the hospital, but unfortunately, four children di£d – two from each of the two families,” he stated. Two children died on Friday, and the remaining two on Saturday. Idris also mentioned that a dog given some of the leftover food also vomited and died, bringing the total number of reported deaths from both incidents to seven within less than two weeks. The community has been plunged into mourning by these events.

In response, Monday Amoka, the Chairman of Okehi Local Government Area, confirmed that efforts are underway to save five other victims still receiving medical attention. He stated that samples of the suspected food have been collected and sent to a medical laboratory in Lokoja for analysis to ascertain the actual cause of the deaths. The Kogi State Government has also launched an investigation into the incidents.

Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, in a statement, directed the Commissioner for Health to initiate a comprehensive inquiry. Kingsley Femi Fanwo, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, clarified that the investigation aims to determine whether the consumed food was contaminated or if other medical or environmental factors contributed to the fatalities. He assured that relevant samples and evidence would be thoroughly examined in line with established public health protocols.