Amidst the prevailing economic hardship and hunger in Nigeria, a family of six, in an attempt to alleviate their hunger, consumed ‘Amala’ made from cassava peels which has landed them in the hospital.

They were urgently hospitalized at Ladoke Akintola Teaching Hospital in Ogbomoso, Oyo state.

The incident which happened on Wednesday night in Ogbomoso South/Ogo Oluwa Local Government area of the State left one of the family members dead.

According to a report by Vanguard, they started complaining of  abdominal pain hours after consuming the amala.

Neighbours quickly rushed the mother whose name was given as Mrs Victoria Adewole and the five children to the Ogo Oluwa Hospital, opposite Ogbomoso High School. 

Unfortunately, the hospital management had to refer them to LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso having observed their serious condition. 

Upon arrival at the teaching hospital, one of the children, a grand daughter could not be admitted because she was reportedly brought in dead. Five others were admitted and are said to be at intensive care unit of the hospital.

The source said, “The family ate Amala dinner prepared from yam or cassava flour.”

According to the source, “one of the children managed to disclose that it was cassava peels that they ground and made into flour which they prepared as Amala, since they could not afford to buy yam or cassava flour.”

“The complication from the peels might have resulted in the death of the youngest grand daughter, whose immune system might be very low. 

“The mother and her other four children are still battling with life in the hospital. We plead with kind-hearted people to please assist the family in whatever way they can so that fatality is no longer recorded among them”, the source said.

The Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Prof. Olawale Olakulehin, confirmed the incident saying, “The one that gave up, died before getting to LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso. As at this afternoon, four of the five undergoing treatment are in stable condition. However, one of them is in critical condition. I have just been updated”.