The residents of Saki, Oyo State, are in a state of fear after a doctor and three nurses from Almusharaf Hospital in Oke Sunah died within just 72 hours. The tragic sequence began with the death of a nurse three days ago, followed by another nurse on Monday. On Tuesday, a doctor and a third nurse also passed away, leaving the community in shock.

Speculation is rife among locals about the possible cause of these deaths. Some suspect that a contagious disease, potentially mishandled by hospital staff, could be to blame. However, no patients have been reported as affected. Others have raised concerns about food poisoning, with suggestions that the medical staff may have shared a meal, leading to the fatalities.

ALSO READ: Oyo Expands Social Register to Aid Vulnerable Households

One resident, Mr. Adekunle Lawal, expressed the growing anxiety, saying, “We are afraid because we don’t know what caused their deaths. It’s a very big hospital, and sometimes they invite doctors from other places.”

The mysterious deaths have prompted residents to call for immediate investigations by the Ministry of Health and relevant authorities, urging them to conduct autopsies to uncover the cause. Legal practitioner Mr. Adeola Fehintola, another concerned resident, highlighted the risk posed by the town’s proximity to the border, which could expose it to potential infectious diseases.