Kogi Amala Tragedy: Widow Loses Husband, Two Children as Death Toll Rises to Seven - Newstrends
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Kogi Amala Tragedy: Widow Loses Husband, Two Children as Death Toll Rises to Seven

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Kogi Amala Tragedy: Widow Loses Husband, Two Children as Death Toll Rises to Seven

Mama Rahama narrowly escaped death after losing husband, two children to suspected food poisoning as four more children die in Ikoyi community

A devastating tragedy has struck communities in Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State, where seven people have reportedly died after consuming meals prepared from cassava flour in two separate incidents within less than two weeks. A widow, Mama Rahama, has recounted her harrowing experience of losing her husband and two children to suspected food poisoning after they ate amala, a local delicacy made from cassava flour.

The first incident occurred in Ohuepe community on August 14, 2026, when Mama Rahama’s husband, Rahama, and two of her children, Rabiyat and Samad, died within hours of each other at Ado Ozuka Hospital in Ogaminana. The victims had consumed the amala for dinner two days prior and began experiencing severe weakness, vomiting, and stomach pains before their conditions rapidly deteriorated.

Speaking from her home in Ohuepe, Mama Rahama recounted how she narrowly escaped death because she ate only a small quantity of the meal. She had just been discharged from hospital and had poor appetite, which she believes saved her life. Her four-year-old son, Mikail, also survived after refusing to eat the food altogether.

“Except my four-year-old last born, Mikail, who refused to eat the food, my husband, Rahama, Rabiyat, Samad, Senani and Haliru ate the amala for dinner,” she said. “I could only take a little because I had poor appetite and had just been discharged from hospital.”

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She described the rapid deterioration of her family members, saying the situation became worse the following day. “As the situation became worse, four of us were rushed to Ado Ozuka Hospital in Ogaminana. But Rabiyat died, followed by Samad and later my husband, all within a few hours on the same day.”

The tragedy deepened when four more children died in the neighbouring Ikoyi community after eating a similar meal prepared from cassava flour. Residents reported that nine people from two families ate the meal last Thursday evening, with some consuming leftovers the following morning. According to Al-Hassan Idris, a resident, those who ate the food began experiencing weakness, followed by stooling and vomiting of blood. Two children died on Friday and the remaining two on Saturday. A dog that was given leftover food also reportedly vomited and died, further raising alarm about the contamination of the cassava flour.

The incidents have thrown communities in the area into fear, with several other victims currently receiving treatment in hospitals. The Kogi State Government has ordered an investigation into the incident, with Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo directing the Commissioner for Health to commence a comprehensive inquiry. The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, said the investigation would determine whether the food consumed by the victims was contaminated or whether other medical or environmental factors contributed to the deaths. Relevant samples and evidence would be examined in line with established public health procedures.

The chairman of Okehi Local Government Area, Monday Amoka, confirmed that samples of the suspected food had been collected and sent to a medical laboratory in Lokoja for analysis. Efforts were also being intensified to save the five other victims who were still receiving treatment.

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A medical consultant in Lokoja, Dr Ahmed Okolo, has urged relevant authorities to urgently trace the source of the flour used to prepare the suspected poisonous food and subject it to laboratory analysis to determine the substance involved. He noted that the rapid deterioration of the victims suggested that poisoning should be considered alongside other possible causes.

“The raw material could have been contaminated at the source, by the seller or middlemen in an attempt to preserve it or increase its quality or quantity. People now add different substances to preserve raw or processed food materials. In some cases, these preservatives alter their contents and become harmful to the body,” he said.

Okolo also called for post-mortem examinations on the victims to establish the cause of death. He said pathologists should examine the bodies to determine what caused the failure of vital organs. “Post-mortem examinations can help identify the poison, determine how it affected the organs and establish the actual cause of death,” he said.

Some residents have suggested that the deaths may be linked to the consumption of a poisonous cassava variety popularly called “bitter cassava” , which can be dangerous if not properly processed before consumption. They called for authorities to investigate the cassava being consumed in the affected communities, particularly those sourced from nearby towns or farms.

The tragic incident has revived memories of a similar tragedy in Kogi State in November 2016, when nine people died after consuming cassava flour meal in the Ogaminana area of Okene. Mama Rahama, who has since been discharged from hospital, appealed to the Kogi State Government and individuals to support the surviving members of her family. The government has urged residents to remain calm and refrain from drawing conclusions about the cause of the deaths until the investigation is concluded and verified facts emerge.

Kogi Amala Tragedy: Widow Loses Husband, Two Children as Death Toll Rises to Seven

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MURIC Urges FG to Suspend NYSC Scheme, Discharge 20 Freed Corps Members

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October 9, 2026

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MURIC Urges FG to Suspend NYSC Scheme, Discharge 20 Freed Corps Members
MURIC’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola

MURIC Urges FG to Suspend NYSC Scheme, Discharge 20 Freed Corps Members

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on the Federal Government to suspend the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme until the country’s worsening insecurity is brought under control.

The Islamic human rights organisation also demanded the immediate discharge of 20 corps members recently released after spending a week in the custody of kidnappers in Imo State.

MURIC urged the government to issue the affected corps members their NYSC discharge certificates and pay them the allowances they would have received throughout the 2026/2027 service year as compensation for their ordeal.

The group’s Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, made the demands in a press release issued on Friday, October 9, 2026.

Akintola said the abduction of the corps members had highlighted the security challenges facing participants in the national service scheme, arguing that young Nigerians should not be exposed to such risks while fulfilling their national obligations.

MURIC welcomed the release of the 20 corps members and expressed gratitude for their safe return, while congratulating their parents and families.

The organisation, however, said the traumatic experience of the freed corps members and others who had suffered similar ordeals warranted a review of the scheme’s operation amid persistent insecurity.

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According to Akintola, insecurity has become the scheme’s greatest challenge, placing the Federal Government under an obligation to protect young Nigerians participating in national service.

He argued that the government had a responsibility, in its capacity as a guardian, to ensure the safety of corps members deployed to different parts of the country.

“However, in view of the apparent inability to do this, at least presently, we demand the suspension of the NYSC scheme until FG is able to take full control of the security situation in the country,” he said.

The group also insisted that the 20 freed corps members should not be required to continue their service after their reported week-long ordeal in captivity.

MURIC proposed that the affected individuals be formally discharged and compensated with the allowances they would otherwise have earned during the entire 2026/2027 service year.

The organisation said its demands were aimed at protecting young Nigerians from further exposure to kidnapping and other security threats associated with national service.

The call comes amid renewed concerns over the safety of corps members travelling to their places of deployment, particularly in areas affected by kidnapping and other security challenges.

The NYSC scheme, established in 1973, requires eligible Nigerian graduates to undertake a year of national service, including deployment to states other than their places of origin in many cases.

MURIC’s proposal would require a major policy decision by the Federal Government and the relevant authorities responsible for administering the scheme.

The government had yet to respond to the demands contained in the statement at the time of this report.

MURIC Urges FG to Suspend NYSC Scheme, Discharge 20 Freed Corps Members

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MTN Network Outage Hits Lagos, Abuja, Four Other Areas as NCC Reports Service Restoration

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October 9, 2026

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MTN Network Outage Hits Lagos, Abuja, Four Other Areas as NCC Reports Service Restoration

MTN Network Outage Hits Lagos, Abuja, Four Other Areas as NCC Reports Service Restoration

MTN Nigeria subscribers experienced service disruptions across parts of Lagos, Oyo, Rivers and Delta states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), following a network outage that affected calls, internet access and other telecommunications services.

The disruption was reported on Thursday, October 8, prompting the telecommunications operator to alert customers that some services might be temporarily unavailable while its technical team worked to resolve the problem.

MTN announced the outage in a notice posted on its official X account, identifying the affected areas as parts of Oyo, Lagos, Rivers, the FCT and Delta states.

The company said its engineers were working to restore normal services as quickly as possible and appealed to customers for patience.

In a subsequent message, the operator apologised to subscribers experiencing difficulties and reiterated that its technical team was addressing the problem.

The disruption affected key telecommunications services, with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) reporting interruptions to voice calls, text messages, data and short-code services.

According to an incident update published by the NCC, the outage was recorded at about 2:45 p.m. on Thursday, with the regulator initially classifying the disruption as a major outage.

The NCC’s incident information attributed the problem to high temperatures at an MTN data centre. The regulator subsequently reported that data and fibre services were affected in Ibadan, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Abuja and Asaba.

However, neither MTN nor the regulator disclosed the number of subscribers affected by the disruption.

The outage raised concerns among customers who depend on mobile connectivity for business communications, online banking, digital payments, remote work and other everyday activities.

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For businesses that rely on internet access and telephone services to communicate with customers, even temporary network interruptions can delay transactions and disrupt operations.

MTN did not initially provide a specific timeline for restoring all affected services, leaving subscribers waiting for further updates from the company.

However, the NCC subsequently marked the incident as resolved. In an update checked at about 6:29 a.m. on Friday, October 9, the regulator’s incident history stated that power had been restored and all services were back.

The restoration notice provided an indication that the disruption had been addressed, although the regulator did not disclose how many customers had been affected or provide a breakdown of the impact across the affected locations.

The outage also coincided with MTN’s ongoing airtime compensation exercise for eligible subscribers affected by poor network quality recorded between February and April 2026, following directives from telecommunications regulators.

The compensation exercise relates to earlier service failures and is separate from the October 8 outage. MTN had not announced whether subscribers affected by the latest incident would receive additional compensation.

The latest disruption has again drawn attention to the importance of reliable telecommunications infrastructure as Nigerians increasingly depend on mobile networks for communication, financial transactions, education and commercial activities.

MTN has said its engineers are working to resolve service problems as quickly as possible, while the NCC continues to monitor reported network incidents through its service-disruption platform.

Subscribers experiencing persistent difficulties despite the reported restoration may contact MTN customer care or monitor the company’s official channels for further updates.

MTN Network Outage Hits Lagos, Abuja, Four Other Areas as NCC Reports Service Restoration

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[UPDATED] Lagos Train Crash: 55-Year-Old Motorist Survives as Honda Car Is Wrecked at PWD Crossing

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October 9, 2026

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Lagos Train Crash: Panic as Train Smashes Honda Car at PWD Crossing, Many Feared Dead

[UPDATED] Lagos Train Crash: 55-Year-Old Motorist Survives as Honda Car Is Wrecked at PWD Crossing

A 55-year-old motorist escaped unhurt after a moving train collided with his Honda car at the PWD railway crossing in Ikeja, Lagos, on Friday morning, October 9, 2026.

The collision occurred at about 6:54 a.m. along the Agege Motorway, involving a train travelling towards Agege and a Honda car with registration number EKY 902 JT.

The impact extensively damaged the car, leaving it virtually written off. However, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed that the driver survived without injuries and that no casualty was recorded at the scene.

LASTMA operatives and security personnel swiftly intervened after the collision, rescuing the motorist and removing the wrecked vehicle from the railway track.

Their coordinated response cleared the obstruction and allowed the train to continue its journey towards Agege.

Despite the removal of the vehicle, traffic congestion persisted around the PWD axis, disrupting movement along the affected corridor during the morning rush hour.

The wrecked Honda was subsequently handed over to security personnel for further investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the collision.

The incident had initially raised fears of possible fatalities after reports emerged that a train had smashed into a car at the busy railway crossing. However, the latest information from LASTMA confirmed that the driver survived without injury.

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Reacting to the incident, LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, commended the agency’s operatives and security personnel for their prompt and coordinated response.

He stressed the importance of cooperation among emergency responders in managing incidents involving railway operations and adjoining road infrastructure.

Bakare-Oki also urged motorists to exercise extreme caution when approaching railway crossings and designated train corridors, warning against attempting to cross the tracks when a train is approaching or already in motion.

He noted that disregarding railway safety regulations could result in devastating and irreversible consequences.

LASTMA appealed to motorists and other road users to obey traffic instructions, warning signs and railway safety regulations, emphasising that responsible driving and caution could prevent avoidable accidents.

The crash has renewed attention on safety at railway crossings in Lagos, particularly at busy intersections where road traffic and train operations share the same corridor.

The PWD railway crossing has witnessed fatal incidents in the past. In October 2025, a dispatch rider died after colliding with a moving train at the crossing in Ikeja. Preliminary findings at the time indicated that the rider attempted to cross the tracks while travelling at excessive speed.

Another major incident occurred in March 2023, when a train collided with a Lagos State Government staff bus, killing six people and injuring about 96 others.

Those incidents involved different circumstances from Friday’s collision, in which LASTMA confirmed that the motorist survived without injury.

Motorists are advised to approach railway crossings cautiously, obey warning signals and never attempt to cross when a train is approaching. Trains require considerable stopping distances and may be unable to avoid vehicles obstructing the tracks.

[UPDATED] Lagos Train Crash: 55-Year-Old Motorist Survives as Honda Car Is Wrecked at PWD Crossing

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