Details emerged yesterday on the tragedy that struck a family in Umueze, Egbelu Nguru in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State. Some members of the Nwosu family had perished after eating oil bean and soup.
However, A family member (names withheld) of the deceased who claimed to be their relative revealed to Trumpeta yesterday the entire story that led to the death of her relatives.
The female relative of the dead Eight queried the claim by Federal Medical Centre, Owerri that what killed Madam Gladys Nwosu, her three grand children, Ijeoma Iwueke Frank, Chiamaka Iwueke Frank and Chizitere Promise, including Njideka, Chinelo, Amaka and Chidera Nwosu was lasser fever.
According to her, the eighth victim and only male was a young man called Osita Iwuoha (Ossy) who visited the House and ate the food. He also died a day later.
She did not rule out poison in the whole affair and queried the efficiency of the health system in the State.
She said “My Aunty, Gladys Egonyibo Nwosu cooked the food, soup and oil bean (Ugba) and invited her labourers to come eat after farm work. After the labourers finished eating, others in the House then ate the remainder of the food. Nothing happened to any of them till the next morning. The labourers till date have not complained about any thing. The first victim was Chiamaka. She developed stomach upset. She was first taken to the Church by Chinelo, the undergraduate at University of Nigeria (UNN) who came home for something urgent. Chiamaka died in a Cherubim and Seraphim Church, while Chidera was taken to Ngor Okpala General Hospital”
According to her, Chizitera, the four year old granddaughter of Glady’s Nwosu also began to vomit, stating that she was put on drip but in the process, she passed out urine and passed away.
She disclosed that when the situation went of control, the other victim, Chidera became restless and she was referred to Federal Medical Centre, Owerri by doctors at Ngor Okpala General Hospital.
She went on “When she was referred to FMC, there was an Ambulance with Health at Your Door Step inscription at Ngor Okpala General Hospital, but the doctor said the driver of the ambulance was not on duty. I begged him that I should call my brother to drive the ambulance. After much thought, the doctor decided to drive the ambulance himself to the FMC with me and Chidera. The other victim, Njideka was also brought to FMC. Chinelo, the UNN graduate also died. Her birthday was today (Tuesday)
She continued “We were not immediately told what they were suffering from. Njideka was kept in a place where those with chest related ailments such as Tuberculosis were kept. I only noticed that the doctors and nurses covered themselves with aprons and gloves before they gave them medication. Even when she vomited, the cleaners of the hospital refused to come and clean up her vomit. It was later that we were told that they had lasser fever”
She disapproved the claim by the FMC authorities on the cause of the deaths, adding that she noticed that part of the bodies including that of Ijeoma and Chinelo were peeling off before they died, stressing that the eyes of other victims were also popping out before they gave up the ghost. While some of them also vomited.
She declared “I have the photocopies of the test results; there was no place where lasser fever was written as the cause of their ailment. If it was lasser fever, those workers whom Madam Nwosu invited to come and eat the food are still alive and healthy. They would have died too. They only took anti poison and they are still in good health till this moment as I am speaking to you”
She queried the existence of lasser fever in the area, saying if there is prevalence of such disease, the entire Imo state should been notified of it.
“Even if it is, does it mean there is no control mechanism to sickness? And we were not even informed or educated about it. Is lasser fever in Imo State? Please tell me” she asked dejectedly.
When Trumpeta visited the Federal Medical Centre, the PRO of the hospital, Mr. Emerenini, said investigations into the matter is ongoing, stating that at no time did FMC say it is lasser fever that killed the patients. According to him, investigations are ongoing to ascertain the actual cause of the deaths.
Meanwhile, Elder Statesman and native of Egbelu Nguru, Sir Eustace Eke has called on Government to set up a Judicial Inquiry to unravel the cause of the deaths, at least to avoid repeat of such a dastardly occurrence.
The President General of the Community, Mr Linus Eke lamented that it was unfortunate and incredible that since the incident occurred, no official from the Imo State Government has visited the traumitised Community except the Ngor Okpala LGA Sole Administrator, Hon Blacky Okere, Hon Emeka Offor, Member of the House of Assembly and Bar Soronadi Njoku, Attorney General, and Commissioner for Justice, who all are from Ngor Okpala LGA.
He appealed to Government to come to their aid, as the Community cannot bear the expenses of burying eight of its members.
“When five people died in Emekuku in same circumstance, we knew what Government did. When a tree fell and killed people in Mbieri, we also knew what Government did. But why treat the people of Ngor Okpala this way?” he cried.
