The death toll from suspected poisonous alcohol consumption in Ondo State has risen to 49, with 170 people affected, according to the state government.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Ajaka, disclosed the updated figures while providing an update on the state’s response to the incident.
Ajaka said eight of the latest deaths were recorded in Irele Local Government Area, which has now emerged as the latest area seriously affected by the suspected consumption of toxic alcoholic substances.
“As we are now, Irele (LG) is where we have serious issue now. Our people were there and many people have died. About eight people have been recorded to have died as at yesterday’s night,” the commissioner said.
He added that the total number of affected persons, including those hospitalised and those who died, had risen to about 170.
According to him, the state government has intensified surveillance and emergency response efforts to prevent the incident from spreading to other local government areas.
Ajaka said medical and health teams had already been deployed to Irele following reports of the suspected poisoning.
“We are always fast about it wherever and whenever we hear the report of the issue. Our teams are already in Irele as I’m talking to you now,” he said.
The state government is working with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other relevant agencies as investigations continue.
Ajaka also said Ondo State’s response to the outbreak had received commendation at a national meeting involving health commissioners and officials of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
Investigation Into Suspected Toxic Alcohol
The commissioner had earlier linked the deaths recorded in Odigbo Local Government Area to the consumption of locally brewed alcohol and herbal mixtures served during two naming ceremonies in communities including New Town, Odole, Okele, Orita Odigbo, Araromi-Obu and Oniparaga.
He said investigations showed that, at one of the ceremonies, an outsider brought the drink consumed by guests.
Ajaka subsequently warned residents against consuming unregulated alcoholic beverages and herbal preparations whose ingredients and production processes cannot be verified.
He stressed that products marketed as herbal medicine could also pose serious health risks when their contents are unknown or contaminated.
Police Arrest 15 Suspects
Meanwhile, the Ondo State Police Command has arrested 15 suspects in connection with the alleged production, sale and distribution of a local herbal alcoholic mixture popularly known as “Monkey Tail.”
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Jimoh Abayomi, said an investigation had commenced into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
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One of those arrested was identified as Oloruntoba Babatunde, also known as “Meko,” who is suspected of being involved in the production of the toxic substance believed to contain methanol.
Abayomi said Babatunde was assisting investigators, while substances suspected to be methanol had been recovered and sent for forensic examination.
The laboratory analysis is expected to establish the composition of the recovered substances and determine whether they are linked to the reported deaths.
The arrests followed the Ondo State Government’s ban on the sale and distribution of unverified alcoholic drinks after an earlier outbreak in Odigbo reportedly left 30 people dead and 50 others hospitalised following consumption of the suspected herbal alcoholic mixture.
Authorities have continued to urge residents to avoid unregulated alcoholic products while investigations into the source and composition of the suspected poisonous substance continue.
