BY DAUD OLATUNJI

ABEOKUTA—No fewer than 20 persons, mostly children have been hospitalised following cholera outbreak in Idi-Araba  NITEL area of Ikorita  Meje in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The epidemic was said to have affected four communities in the area and forced residents to flee.
Vanguard’s investigation revealed that the abandoned refuse dumpsite in the area might have been responsible for the outbreak.

It was gathered that residents used to dump refuse in a canal in the area which eventually blocked the drainage and wreaked a lot of havoc.
At the time of this report, no fewer than 20 casualties were recorded including an old man identified as Alhaji Abu.

Chairman, Ogo-Oluwa Community Development Area, Nurudeen Bisiriyu, told Vanguard that four communities had been affected.
Bisiriyu also said the canal had been turned to refuse dumpsite and had led to the collapse of a building after a heavy downpour last week.

According to him, “about 20 children have been taken to hospitals because of the cholera. In fact, Alhaji Abu, whose house was behind the dumpsite has been diagnosed of the disease. We have written letters to the local government, the lawmaker from this place, Olakunle Oluomo, the Chairman and the health officials of the local government, but none of them has replied our letters.”

When contacted, the Director of Information in the council, Prince Tola Osunlaja said the council had begun moves to relocate the dumpsite.
He however, explained that the dumpsite had been there before the present administration came on board, saying, notwithstanding, the council executive had secured another place to be used as a dumpsite.