Tragedy struck in Runjn Barmo village of Kajiji District in Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto State as a family of seven died after consuming contaminated cassava meal.

The village head, Muhammadu Modi Magajin Runjin Barmo, who received the state’s Commissioner for Health, Hajiya Asabe Balarabe and other officials on a condolence visit, said the incident happened on Wednesday, August 7.

Barmo said the victims prepared the contaminated Cassava as their dinner.

He said: “The victims comprised of the father, Malam Abubakar, his wife, A’ishatu Abubakar as well as their five children died after they ate the foods”.

He added that though they died after the meal, it has not been confirmed if their death was directly caused by the food.

He said this is because the Cassava has been used by about five houses in the village but up to now no death was recorded.

Responding, the state Commissioner for health Hajiya Asabe Balarabe said they were in the village to assess the cause of the incident for onward Communication to the governor for further action.

Hajiya Balarabe said she formally got the report of the incident on Saturday, August 10, which is why she quickly led a delegation comprising all Directors and the Surveillance Disease Control Unit of the ministry to assess the situation.

The Commissioner further revealed that the ministry would take samples of one teenager who happened to be alive after eating the suspected contaminated Cassava food so as to confirm whether the victims died because of the meal.