Nine family members die mysteriously in Kogi

In Nagazi, Adavi Local Government area, Kogi State, nine members of the same family reportedly perished under strange circumstances.Infomation Guide Nigeria

Five children of the same parents are present, along with four others.

Monday evening’s tragedy resulted in the deaths of five family members before four others were brought to the hospital, according to reports.

Our correspondent was informed by sources that the remaining four victims died at an unidentified local hospital.

This comes a few days after four family members in Mopa, MopaAmuro LGA, Kogi State, died after consuming amala over the weekend.

In contrast to the MopaAmuro death, it was unclear whether the family consumed any food before to death’s arrival; yet, a source suspects a high likelihood of food poisoning.

A family member who wished to remain anonymous reported that the father of the slain victims had been arrested, while the mother was still being treated at an unnamed hospital.

The Lagos State Police Command has verified the arrest of four members of a syndicate that reportedly specialised in jeopardising the lives of juvenile beggars in order to solicit alms from state residents.

PUNCH A good Samaritan was on his way to a destination in the Kirikiri neighbourhood of FESTAC, Lagos, when he witnessed one of the suspects using an ointment to rob a girl with a protruding tummy early in the morning.

Following the discovery, the good Samaritan raised the alarm, and the culprit and three accomplices were caught and sent to the FESTAC Police Station for further investigation.

Uchenna Eze, 24, Onyedikachkwu Isiala, 18, Ikechukwu Kingsley, 22, and Smart Alasuomu, 20, are the suspects.

It was discovered that the suspects, along with others still at large, reportedly targeted children aged 11 to 13.

During interrogation, Eze stated that the children were afflicted with illnesses.

He said, “They (children) are inside their village in Abakaliki. So, when one of my aunts, Ngozi Chukwu, who is the founder of the foundation, saw other associations parading in Lagos, she knew these kinds of cases are in her village in Abakaliki and she went there and brought these ones (children).

“The girls’ parents know that they are in Lagos and used as beggars to get money so that they can be treated or operated on because they are poor. Anybody who knows Abakaliki will know what I am saying. I have a sister like them; I can never do such a thing in my life. There is no one that we give medicine to make their stomach swell. But we normally treat them.

“I have been doing this business since December 2020. The children used to see their families; one of them still went to see her parents last year, while the other girl returned this July. I can’t say the period these girls have been begging, but the money raised from the begging is usually deposited in an account controlled by Ngozi Chukwu, who is the owner of the foundation.

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“When it is time for the surgery, Dr Ajayi will do it. He has operated on one patient and the boy is now in the village. She (Chukwu) will soon land anytime soon; she left Lagos last month for the village. She heard her mother fell sick and went there to stay with her.”

He said, “A few days that the children spent with the police, their stomachs came down. So, it was something that they (victims) were allegedly given regularly that is making their stomach protrude. So, the more the protruded stomach shines with what they use in robbing it, the more people will believe that the children have a very bad condition.

“The doctor has been avoiding police invitations. Each time the police go to the hospital, he is not always around, and when the police call his phone, he keeps saying he is busy and will come. But he has not come. This shows there is foul play. The suspects are in custody. Investigation is ongoing.”Jamb Result

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