A tragic incident occurred in Kaurar Wanke village, Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto State, where a family of five lost their lives after consuming soup prepared with fertilizer mistakenly used as monosodium glutamate (locally known as “Farin Maggi”). The unfortunate event happened on Thursday, with the victims succumbing to the effects of the toxic substance by Sunday.
Sokoto State Commissioner for Health, Hajiya Asabe Balarabe, confirmed the incident, explaining that despite the efforts of health officials, the substance had already severely damaged the victims’ organs, leading to their deaths. Three members of the family died on Friday, while the remaining two passed away at Sokoto Specialist Hospital on Sunday, even as the commissioner was present.
Two other individuals who consumed the same soup are currently receiving treatment at Sokoto Specialist Hospital. The commissioner emphasized the importance of keeping poisonous and chemical substances away from food items and out of reach of children to prevent such tragedies.
A relative of the deceased, Muhammad Abdullahi, expressed gratitude for the swift intervention of the health commissioner and her team, who remained engaged throughout the ordeal. The Chief Medical Director of Sokoto Specialist Hospital, Dr. Attahiru Sokoto, also described the incident as deeply unfortunate.
This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of improper storage of hazardous substances and the need for increased public awareness to prevent such occurrences in the future.
