Govt Debunks Circulation Of Killer Beans In Enugu Markets

Trending voice notes and videos on social media claiming that killer beans are being marketed in some markets in Enugu State are false.

THE WHISTLER reports that four members of a family at Nsukka were alleged to have died about two months ago after eating suspected contaminated beans.

A media assistant to the state governor on New Media, Dr Reuben Onyishi, clarified this in Enugu weekend.

According to him, the state government had sent a delegation to the mother of the children who were reportedly victims of such beans in another incident in the state, revealing that the mother confirmed that they had not cooked beans in a long while.

Quoting him, “The essence of this press briefing is to refute various stories about the death of three persons in the state who were alleged to have eaten poisonous beans. The social media is awash with reactions from a trending story that beans currently sold at various markets in Enugu state may have been poisoned following the death of three children after allegedly consuming the said beans.

“In view of this, we carried out investigations aimed at uncovering the facts of the case as well as refuting the allegation and dissuading the minds of the public from further spread of the story.

“This story is false from the investigations we carried out. That is why it is important we inform the public. There are no poisoned beans in Enugu.”

He said on 24th September, they went into investigations at the family residence of the mother of the deceased children, located at Zone One, Akwuke, behind 103 Battalion Military Barracks in Enugu, and that during the interview, the mother identified, as Angela Egbo, an indigene of Nenwe in Aninri LGA and proprietress of Elohim Gaddon Schools, Akwuke, said her children, Chiemerie Victor Egbo, 14; Uchechukwu Ruth Egbo, female, 17; Chinencherm Janeth Onu, 22, did not die of food or beans poisoning and that the family had not consumed beans in a long while.

He said, “The Egbos further narrated how their children took ill and were further taken to Mother of Christ, Enugu, and UNTH, Ituku Ozalla in Nkanu West Local Government for medical attention. From numerous laboratory tests conducted, no trace of food poisoning was attributed as the cause of the death.

“Angela stated that her children were already buried and the videos making the rounds were false and misleading. She equally debunked the idea of the involvement of anybody in the death, noting that they live in a well-secured family house and had cordial relations with their neighbours.”

Onyishi called on the public to disregard the story, saying, “There are no killer beans in Enugu.”