The Benue State Government has identified the source of the ailment that led to the death of four persons in Obi Local Government Area of the state.
The state Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Sunday Ongbabo, revealed the source of the ailment when he spoke with newsmen on Thursday.
It would be recalled that last Wednesday, the Igede National Youth Council through its President-elect, Andyson Iji Egbodo, raised the alarm over a strange sickness that had claimed the lives of four persons and left 15 others in critical condition in Oye-Obi community of Obi Local Government Area.
Speaking with newsmen on Thursday, Ongbabo said the deaths and hospitalisation of the four persons was caused by the consumption of chemically-contaminated water.
Ongbabo said the discovery of the contaminated water was made after the ministry swiftly took action by visiting the area to ascertain the cause of the strange sickness.
He called on the villagers to immediately look for alternative source of water for their domestic use.
Ongbabo, who spoke with newsmen on the telephone from the community, said: “We are at the community right now.
“We have transferred those who are down with the sickness to the teaching hospital for thorough monitoring.
“Since the victims showed same symptoms, particularly diarrhoea, we have advised the people to stop using their source of water because the water is likely contaminated.
“However, we will take the water for analysis before we can arrive at anything, but right now, we have advised them not to use the water or fish there.”
The Commissioner said some of the sick had been moved to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi for close monitoring.
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