This is an interesting piece which I personally haave decided to do more research on, let me know your thoughts (on the comment bot below) about the two opposing views of the two teams….
What the health experts say:
Pesticide poisoning was the likely cause of the mysterious
deaths of at least 18 people in a southwestern Nigerian town earlier this week,
the World Health Organization said Sunday.
The "current hypothesis is cause of the
event is herbicides", WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl said in a Tweet.
"Tests done so far are negative for
viral and bacterial infection," he added.
The victims began showing symptoms early
last week in what Ondo state spokesman Kayode Akinmade called a
"mysterious disease", prompting fears of a new infectious disease
outbreak in a region ravaged by Ebola.
The victims, whose symptoms included
headache, weight loss, blurred vision and loss of consciousness, died within a
day of falling ill in the town of Ode-Irele, in southwestern Ondo state.
The Ondo state health commissioner, Dayo
Adeyanju, told AFP news agency on Saturday that 23 people had been affected.
Akinmade said health officials and experts
from the government and aid agencies, as well as WHO epidemiologists, had
arrived in Ode-Irele to investigate the deaths.
The tests were carried out at the Lagos
University Teaching Hospital, the WHO said.
What the Native Experts Say:
High Chief Moses Enimade, the Oyewoga of Ode Irele in Ondo
State, says the recent death of 20 youths in the town was caused by sacrilege
done to Molokun, god of the land.
Enimade, next in command to Oba Cornelius
Olanrewaju-Lebi, stated this during interview in Irele on Saturday.
He debunked the rumour that the deaths were
caused by strange disease or Ebola virus.
It will be recalled that no fewer than 20
youths reportedly died of severe headaches and blindness in the town recently.
Enimade contended that some stubborn youths
broke into the inner room of Molokun Shrine on April 15.
"Molokun is a deity of the land, only
the Chief Priest and High Chief Gboguron are qualified to enter the
shrine."
The chief said the youths entered the shrine
and made away with traditional items in a bid to acquire extra-ordinary powers
and engage in money ritual.
"They were not qualified to enter the
room (shrine). They had to face death penalty"; he emphasised.
The Oyewoga said it he could not remember
the last time Malokun or any other gods had to strike like this in the area.
