Kogi State orders an urgent investigation after four members of one family and their dog died following a meal of amala in Ihima, Okehi LGA, with nine others hospitalized amid suspicion of food contamination.
Ihima, Kogi State — August 22, 2026
Tragedy has struck Ihima community in Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State, after four members of the same family reportedly died following a meal of amala, a local delicacy made from cassava flour, prompting the state government to order an immediate investigation.
A resident of the community, Suleiman Nasiru, said the exact cause of the deaths remains unclear, with questions still open over whether the meal was deliberately poisoned or contaminated by naturally occurring toxins in the cassava used to prepare it.
Nine other people who consumed the same meal were reportedly hospitalised, though their conditions had not been disclosed as of this report.
Adding a troubling twist to the case, reports indicate that the family's dog also died after eating the same food, a detail authorities say will be factored directly into the investigation given its potential relevance to determining whether contamination or poisoning was involved.
Reacting to the incident on Saturday, Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, said Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo had directed the Commissioner for Health to launch a comprehensive investigation into the deaths, with specific focus on determining whether food poisoning, contamination, or another medical or environmental factor was responsible.
Fanwo said the Ministry of Health had been instructed to work with relevant agencies and stakeholders to ensure a thorough probe and to implement appropriate public health measures based on the findings, adding that relevant samples and available evidence would be examined in line with established public health procedures.
The government appealed to residents to remain calm and avoid speculating about the cause of the deaths until the investigation concludes and verified facts are established. Governor Ododo, according to Fanwo, expressed sympathy for the bereaved family and the wider Ihima community, and assured that further updates would be released as the probe progresses.
As of the time of this report, the Kogi State Police Command's spokesperson had not commented on the incident, and the precise cause of the deaths remained officially unconfirmed.
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