Five Farmers Die After Meals

The mysterious death of five farmers, including two siblings, after taking a meal on a farm has sent shock waves through Tatale in the Zabzugu-Tatale District in the Northern Region.

The owner of the farm, one Atta Tidame, whose children were among the deceased, had employed the services of the three other victims on his farm.

The deceased are Podoo Tidame, 25; Atta Tidame Jnr, 16; Ngoseme, 28; Mashin, 28, and Kosi Adam, 26.

Their bodies have since been deposited at the Yendi Hospital for autopsy.

The Northern Region Police Commander, ACP Angwubutoge Awuni, told newsmen in Tamale that four of the deceased died on the farm, while the fifth person died later at the Tatale Clinic.

According to him, the deceased drank water and ate food allegedly prepared for them on the farm by Atta Tidame.

He explained that the owner of the farm, Tidame, who lived at Tatale, had gone to the farm together with his two sons, Podoo and Atta Jnr, and the three labourers to work.

According to ACP Awuni, after working on the farm for a while, Tidame decided to cook for all of them to eat but while eating they started having uncomfortable feelings in their stomachs.

The police commander further stated that a farmer who was also working on his farm nearby heard an unusual noise and when he rushed to the scene, he found all the six persons, including Tidame (the farm owner), lying helplessly on the ground and groaning.

He indicated that the farmer then rushed to inform the relatives of the victims about what had happened but when he returned, four of them had died, leaving Tidame and one of his children.

They were both rushed to the Tatale Clinic but Tidame’s child died on arrival there, while Tidame, in a critical condition, was later referred to the Yendi Government Hospital where he is currently responding to treatment.

ACP Awuni said samples of the food and water had been sent to the laboratory to help establish the cause of death.