Five Siblings D!e After Suspected Food Poisoning, Mother Hospitalized

 

A cloud of sorrow hangs heavily over Ogidi, a quiet community in Idemili North LGA of Anambra State, after a heartbreaking tragedy claimed the lives of five children from the same family in what authorities suspect to be a case of food poisoning.

The devastating incident unfolded on Saturday, May 3, 2025, sending shockwaves through the community and plunging the Aghalu family into mourning. The children had reportedly shared a home-cooked meal prepared by their mother, which turned out to be fatal.

Their father, 79-year-old Pa Robinson Aghalu, a retired soldier, described the nightmare that followed. “They started complaining of stomach pain, then came the vomiting. We rushed them from one hospital to another,” he recounted, voice heavy with grief. Sadly, despite desperate efforts, five of the six siblings passed away in different medical facilities including a maternity clinic, Iyienu Mission Hospital, and Crown Hospital.

Their mother, who also ate the same meal, is currently hospitalized and fighting for her life. A medical expert handling her case indicated that food poisoning is the likely cause of the illness.

Tragically, the couple’s only surviving child escaped the incident by chance he was away studying with a relative at the time.

The Anambra State Police Command has stepped in to investigate the incident. According to police spokesperson SP Tochukwu Ikenga, food samples have been collected for forensic testing. "The command has taken over the scene and is working with the community to gather information. We are awaiting lab results to determine the exact cause," he stated.

Meanwhile, the children’s bodies have been placed in a local morgue as the family reels from the shock of an unimaginable loss.

The Aghalu family is in urgent need of support both emotionally and financially as they navigate this period of immense pain.