A devastating incident in Kaurar Wanke village, Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto State, has claimed the lives of five family members who unknowingly consumed soup prepared with fertilizer, mistakenly used as a seasoning. The tragic event occurred on Thursday, but the victims succumbed to the toxic effects on Sunday.
The State Commissioner for Health, Hajiya Asabe Balarabe, confirmed the incident, explaining that the family had mistakenly used fertilizer instead of monosodium glutamate (popularly known as Farin Maggi) in their meal. Despite immediate medical intervention, three of the victims passed away on Friday, while the remaining two died in the presence of the commissioner at Sokoto Specialist Hospital on Sunday.
Two additional family members who consumed the soup are currently receiving treatment at Sokoto Specialist Hospital. The commissioner expressed deep sorrow over the incident, noting that the substance had already severely damaged the victims’ organs, making it difficult to save their lives.
Commissioner Balarabe, who was on an official trip to Abuja when the incident occurred, immediately dispatched ministry officials to address the situation and provide urgent care. She emphasized the importance of keeping hazardous substances far away from kitchens and food storage areas to prevent such tragedies.
A relative of the victims, Muhammad Abdullahi, expressed gratitude to the commissioner and her team for their swift response and compassionate care. The Chief Medical Director of Sokoto Specialist Hospital, Dr. Attahiru Sokoto, described the incident as deeply unfortunate.
