Kareem Abdulrahman
KANO, Nigeria – A widow and her five children lost their lives in Karkari village, Gwarzo Local Government Area of Kano State, North-West Nigeria, after they reportedly consumed a local delicacy known as ‘Danwake’, police said.
The victims, who were all members of the same family, were confirmed dead at Gwarzo General Hospital after being rushed there in critical condition.
According to initial reports, the food was prepared using expired cassava flour, which is suspected to have caused the deaths.
The Kano State Police Command confirmed the incident, stating that the family had consumed the meal on Thursday.
“The six members of the family who ate the food were rushed to Gwarzo General Hospital where they were confirmed dead by doctors. We are still waiting for the medical report from the hospital to ascertain the cause of the death of the six persons,” said SP Abdullahi Haruna, spokesman for the Kano State Police Command.
The deceased have been identified as Alhakatu Abdulkarim, the widow who prepared the meal, and her five children: Bashir, Firdausi, Hafsat, Usman, and Jamilu.
The incident sent shock waves through the local community, leaving neighbors and extended family members devastated.
“This is a great loss for all of us. Alhakatu was a hardworking woman who did everything to provide for her children. It is unimaginable that something like this could happen,” said Malam Musa Abdullahi, a local resident who expressed the community’s grief.
As investigations continue, authorities have urged the public to exercise caution in the preparation and consumption of food, particularly with the use of ingredients that may be expired or unsafe.
“We are urging people to be very careful and ensure that the food they prepare and consume is safe,” Channels Television quoted SP Abdullahi as saying.