Tragedy has struck Amufu community in Edumoga, Okpokwu Local Government Area of Benue State, following the deaths of four siblings who reportedly became critically ill after consuming a soft drink allegedly given to them by a relative.
The children, aged 12, seven, five and three, were said to have died within a short period last week after falling ill under circumstances that have generated concern in the community.
The incident was brought to public attention by an Idoma activist, Meddy Olotu, who shared a video on Facebook detailing the incident and the family’s account of what happened.
According to the father of the deceased children, the siblings had consumed the drink after it was allegedly brought by a relative identified as Anthony Adam while the father was away from home.
He said the children started showing signs of illness about two to three days later, forcing him to rush one of them to the hospital while making arrangements to take the others for medical attention.
The grieving father said the situation deteriorated rapidly, with one of the children dying while he was attending to the others.
He added that three of the siblings had died by the following morning, while the eldest child reportedly died later that day.
“I’m still alive today because I was not allowed to kill myself,” the distraught father said, while recounting the devastating experience.
The father, however, disclosed that Adam and his son had denied any knowledge of what might have caused the children’s illness and deaths.
A separate video circulating online also showed community youths reportedly taking Adam away following the incident.
The circumstances surrounding the deaths remain unclear, as there has been no official confirmation linking the soft drink to the deaths.
Efforts to obtain the reaction of the Benue State Police Command were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
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