Amid controversies over the cause of sudden deaths of Badagry residents in Lagos State, the Badagry West Local Council Development Area (LCDA) has disclosed that the rising death toll in Zongo community in the Seme axis was due to cholera outbreak within the axis and not poisonous rice as been reported across the state.
The council said that the cause of death was discovered after a thorough investigation to ascertain reasons for the new development that has put the Seme border axis under spotlight in the state.
It added that the viral voice notes claiming that stolen trailer-loads of foreign parboiled rice were “cursed” by an aggrieved smuggler after the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) officers impounded the goods which resulted in the mass deaths recorded in the state.
This came days after the NCS distanced the intercepted bags of rice from the deaths being recorded around Badagry community, saying the reports that had gone viral were false, urging the public to disregard the reports.
The Medical Officer of Health for Badagry West LCDA, Dr. Dorcas Oladunjoye, who clarified the situation to newsmen yesterday, linked the death to cholera, following the poor sanitation and unsafe drinking water in Zango community.
“We are aware of a suspected cholera outbreak in Zongo community. There is absolutely no evidence of poisonous rice being the cause of the deaths.
“Once the cases were reported, our department immediately notified the relevant health agencies in Lagos State.”
According to Dr. Oladunjoye, teams from the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Primary Health Care Board, and Health District V have all visited the affected community. Food and water samples have been collected and sent for laboratory analysis. Results are still pending.
“The symptoms observed in victims — vomiting and severe diarrhea — are consistent with cholera. Also, the community’s living conditions are alarmingly unsanitary, and their primary sources of water are contaminated.”
When asked about the number of fatalities, Dr. Oladunjoye said she couldn’t confirm an exact figure but acknowledged multiple deaths have occurred in recent days.
