Tragedy struck in Amana village, in the Obanliku area of Cross River State when five children were reportedly killed after eating cucumber in the home of their grandmother.
Their great grandmother, in whose custody they were at the time of the incident, was said to have also collapsed and died after she got the news.
A resident, Paul Obaji, said the victims’ grandmother, Mrs. Dorothy Agbor, had gone for the burial of one Mr. Emma Kechie, and left the children in the care of their great grandmother.
Obaji, who narrated the incident on Facebook, said upon the grandmother’s arrival the next day, she saw that all the five children were unconscious.
He stated that the children were rushed to a clinic in the community where they were confirmed dead.
He said, “Sadness has taken over the land of Amana, and indeed the entire Becheve Ward in Obanliku, Cross River State, as five grandchildren of one Mrs. Dorothy Agbor from Old Ikwette village, aka Bottom Hill, residing in Amana, have died after eating cucumber.
“Sources reveal that the children ate cucumber in the absence of their grandmother, but under the supervision of their great grandmother. Their grandma had attended the burial of one Mr. Emma Kechie.
“On her return the next morning, she discovered that five of her grandchildren were unconscious; she then raised the alarm, which attracted the attention of friends, neighbours and colleagues who came to her assistance by rushing the victims to a nearby clinic.
“A few minutes later, one female child gave up the ghost. Two hours later, two boys followed. Four hours later, another female child died. As I speak with you now, one of the victims who were undergoing treatment in the hospital has just died.
“The great grandmother, upon hearing the news, collapsed and died a few minutes after, bringing the number of casualties to six.”
Obaji said four of the corpses had already been taken to their hometown in Old Ikwette for burial, adding that the elders of Amana refused to bury the victims on their land because they said it could portend danger for the community in the future.
An indigene of the community confirmed the report to our correspondent on Thursday, saying the details were still sketchy.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Irene Itohan, said she could not confirm the incident because the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the area was not aware of it.
Our correspondent, however, gathered that the state Commissioner of Police had already sent some officers to the remote village, which was said to have poor telecommunications network.
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