In a heartbreaking incident, 68-year-old Mrs. Esther Adeola and her four grandchildren have mysteriously died after reportedly consuming pap. The tragedy occurred at Atayese Street in the Gaga area of Akure, the capital of Ondo State.
Sources indicate that Mrs. Adeola, a retired administrative officer from the Federal Government Girls College in Akure, passed away suddenly prior to the incident involving her grandchildren. Family members initially believed her death was natural, given her advanced age.
A family source recounted, “The elderly woman, who was their paternal grandmother, died suddenly, and we took her to the mortuary. We did not suspect anything unusual about her passing at the time.”
After Mrs. Adeola’s death, her daughter and son-in-law visited her home to sort through her belongings. While there, they discovered some processed dried pap in the kitchen, which the younger children craved. Despite their parents’ reluctance, their mother prepared the pap and served it to her children, who were aged seven, five, and three, along with their 10-year-old cousin.
Shortly after consuming the pap, the children began to writhe in pain, prompting their alarmed parents to rush them to the State Specialist Hospital in Akure. It was at this point that suspicions arose regarding the pap, with family members speculating that it may have been poisoned or contaminated, potentially linking it to the grandmother’s earlier death.
Tragically, the four children spent three days in the hospital before succumbing to their ailments. Family sources expressed their belief that prompt medical attention could have saved them.
As of now, the family has buried the children and opted not to report the case to the police, as they did not suspect foul play.
This incident serves as a somber reminder of the potential dangers that can lurk in everyday food items, raising awareness about food safety in homes.