Umar Abdullahi 
A family of seven died after the consumption of contaminated cassava food in Runjn Barmo village of Kajiji District in Shagari Local Government Area of the Sokoto State.
Narrating his ordeals to the Commissioner for Health, Hajiya Asabe Balarabe who led a powerful delegation to assess the cause of the incident, the Village Head of the area, Malam Muhammadu Magajin Runjin Barmo said the victims prepared the contaminated Cassava as their dinner.
“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 further said the incident which happened on Wednesday is yet to be confirmed, as to whether or not the victims died as a result of consuming the suspected contaminated Cassava food.
He said this was because the suspected Cassava has been used by about five houses in the village but up to now no death was recorded.
Malam Magaji therefore on behalf of the people of the area, thanked the state governor Dr Ahmad Aliyu for showing his concern to them in that direction.
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 yesterday, 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 in that process.
The commissioner on behalf of the state governor Dr Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto Condoled the people of the area over the incident and prayed to Allah to forgive those who lost their lives.
She also called on the people of the state to ensure prompt reporting of any strange disease in their domains to the ministry for immediate intervention.
She also thanked Governor Ahmad Aliyu for all the support given to the ministry which led to the success of its activities.
In his remarks, the director of health for Shagari Local government Sani Bello Tambuwal thanked the Commissioner for her concern for their people and hoped the effort would be sustained.
The Commissioner was accompanied on the visit by the Executive Director Hospital Services Management Board Dr Bello Abubakar Attahiru, some Directors and other staff of the ministry.
