A wave of grief has swept through Ogidi in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, following the death of five siblings from suspected food poisoning.
The tragic incident, which occurred on Saturday, May 3, has left their mother hospitalised and the entire community in shock.
The father of the deceased children, 79-year-old retired soldier Pa Robinson Aghalu, recounted the heart-wrenching moment his children started vomiting and complaining of severe stomach pains shortly after eating a meal prepared at home.
“They were all fine before that meal. But not long after they ate, they started falling ill, one after the other,” Aghalu said.
“We rushed them to hospitals, but five of my children died just like that.”
The children were reportedly taken to multiple health centres, including a nearby maternity clinic, Iyienu Mission Hospital, and Crown Hospital, but efforts to save them proved unsuccessful.
Their mother, who also consumed the same meal, is currently battling for her life at a yet-to-be-disclosed hospital, as doctors suspect food poisoning as the likely cause of the illness.
The family’s only surviving child escaped the incident as he was away studying with a relative.
The Anambra State Police Command has launched an investigation into the tragic occurrence. Spokesperson SP Tochukwu Ikenga confirmed that forensic analysis is underway.
“Our operatives have sealed the scene, collected food samples, and are gathering information from residents to help with the investigation,” he said. “The bodies of the children have been deposited in the morgue.”
The Aghalu family, now shattered by the loss, is reportedly in dire need of financial support to manage medical bills and other related costs.
Residents of Ogidi remain in mourning, struggling to come to terms with the sudden loss of five young lives in one family.
