From Nweke Nweke: Awka
Palpable fear has griped residents of the commercial city of Onitsha Anambra State over an alleged importation of the deadly killer local gin (Ogogoro) or popularly called (Kai Kai) into Onitsha markets.
247ureports.com gathered that the commodity was smuggled into the commercial city through Port Harcourt, via the River Niger.
An unconfirmed report from Okpoko Community in Ogbaru Local Government Area of the
state had it that two residents of the area had contacted the deadly disease after taken the drink at a make shift shop.
One, according the report has allegedly died while the other was taken to an undisclosed hospital outside Anambra State.
When contacted on telephone call, the state commissioner for Health Dr. Joe Akubuike said he has not receives such report but promised to mobilize a team of health experts to the community and markets in the state to investigate the matter.
When a team of journalist visited some of the markets where the commodity are sold in large quantity particularly at Ose-Ogbeijo and Ochanja, none of the dealers agreed to speak to the press while drums of the commodity were seen in large quantity either parked in the shops or being off loaded from the pontoon that betted at the river Niger bank near their shops.
All effort to contact the Chairman of the dealers union proved abortive as he was said to be living in the village. When contacted on telephone call, he snubbed the Journalist and said “I will be in office on Friday but if you cannot wait to see me, you can go ahead and write whatever you want to write”
It would be recalled that at the latest count in River State about seventy people were reported killed by the deadly commodity. Following this development, the Federal Government announced the ban on the sale of the illicit gin nation wide, yet some of the dealers have ingnoured the Federal Government Order.
Meanwhile, residents of the commercial city have expressed serious concern and fear that if the situation is not checked and handled timorously, it would rake havoc in the state. They appeal on the Anambra state Governor Dr. Willie Obiano (Akpokuodike, Aguleri) and the state commissioner for health to investigate the matter urgently with a view to nipping it on bud before the ugly development degenerates beyond control.
Some argued that it is possible, that the community was smuggled into the Onitsha market because according to them, the price of the killer gin is cheaper than the satisfied local gin that were not prepared
by the deadly methanol which the health expert said caused the death
of the victims in Ondo and Rivers state.
They also called on the NAFDAC to ensure that these commodities are
fit for consumption before it is sold in the market or compels the law
enforcement agent to enforce the law on the ban.
