From Victor Seyi, Ilorin
Anguish and pain were palpable at Ogbondoroko, in Afon community in the Asa local government area of Kwara state, at the weekend as residents lamented the sudden calamity that befell a family as a father and his three kids met untimely death.
The incident occurred between Friday night and the early hours of last Saturday in the family of a man popularly called Baba Mokudi, a father of three – one male and two females – who all died on the fateful day.
According to sources in the community who pleaded anonymity, the mother of the three kids suddenly heard the cries of her children in their sleep at midnight on Saturday, the morning of the incident, and she woke up her husband, Baba Mokudi, so that they could both ascertain the reason for the children’s cry.
However, as Baba Mokudi entered the room where the children were sleeping, he suddenly felt dizzy, fell down and gave up the ghost instantly.
The ear-splitting wailing from his wife woke up the whole community and gave them the hint of the calamity that had befallen the family. By the time some members of the community got to the residence of Baba Mokudi, the situation had gone beyond redemption because he and his three children – aged between 11 and 12 years – were dead.
It was also gathered that three people are still being treated at a private hospital in the area over the incident.
It was gathered from neighbours of the deceased that the sudden death could have been caused by a poisoned cassava meal eaten by the family the night preceding the incident, which they said could have contained harmful chemicals unsuitable for human consumption.
However, others said that the sudden death may have been brought about by a chemical the family added to their water to make it ‘safe’ for drinking.
Baba Mokudi, who was a relation of the Mogaji (community leader) of Ogbondoroko, was buried alongside his children in the family compound of the community leader.
When contacted, the Mogaji of the community declined to speak with The Dream Daily, saying that the community had accepted the incident an act of God.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Kwara Police Command, ASP Ajayi Okasanmi, he said that he was yet to be briefed on the incident.
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