Three more persons that partook in the cassava flour meal in Ogaminana area of Okene in Kogi State have lost their lives.

Two of them, a 42-year-old woman and 10-year-old boy, died yesterday at the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, the Acting Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Olatunde Alabi, told newsmen.

Alabi said three victims of the cassava flour meal were rushed to the hospital in critical condition, Wednesday morning, from Ogaminana, Adavi Local Government Area, but two of them died yesterday morning.

According to him, the boy died at about 4a.m while the woman gave up the ghost at about 10a.m.

Alabi said the third victim, a girl of about 13 years, was in critical condition.

The chief medical director confirmed that seven persons actually died between Monday and Tuesday, and not six as speculated.

According to him, the causes of the deaths were yet to be ascertained, but the hospital was suspecting cyanide poison from the cassava meal.

“Clinically, we are saying we are suspecting cyanide poison,’’ Alabi said.

He said the hospital staff did its best to save their lives, noting that the state government appeared determined to ascertain the real causes of the deaths as it had decided to send the blood samples of the victims for detoxincology test in South Africa.

It will be recalled that a woman, three of her children and three of neighbours’ children lost their lives between Monday and Tuesday, after a meal of cassava flour.

The woman was said to have brought the cassava flour from her farm at Uhuepe village on October 30, from which she prepared a dinner (white amala) for her family.

She also extended the meal to the children of her neighbours.

The woman and three of her children died in their house on October 31, while the three children of their neighbours, who partook in the meal, died at the Okene General Hospital on November 1.