49 Dead, 170 Affected as Poisonous Drink Crisis Spreads in Nigeria's Ondo State

Rising Death Toll and Spread to New Area

The death toll from the consumption of a suspected poisonous herbal drink in Ondo State has risen to 49, with about 170 people reportedly affected by the health crisis. [1] The incident, which was initially reported in Araromi-Obu and Odigbo communities in the Odigbo Local Government Area, has also spread to the Irele Local Government Area, where eight deaths have been reported. [1] The Ondo State Government has confirmed more deaths in connection with the consumption of suspected poisonous alcoholic drinks in Odigbo Local Government Area. [2] The Commissioner for Health, Banji Ajaka, told journalists that 49 fatalities have now been reported, as against 39 reported last week. [2] The government also said the cases increased from 60 to 170 as of last Friday. [2] The Ondo State government has said that 49 people have now died from suspected poisonous alcohol consumption, with 170 others affected across the state. [3] Some incidents have been reported in the Irele Local Government Area, with eight fatalities recorded in the area. [2] The crisis started with 24 deaths. [2] The figure rose to 29 a week later. [2] Communities earlier affected include New Town, Odole, Okele and Orita Odigbo in Odigbo Ward, and subsequently in Araromi Obu. [2] Suspected cases were also reported at Oniparaga, all in Odigbo LGA. [2]

Cause of the Poisoning

The commissioner attributed the health crisis to the consumption of ethanol by the victims. [1] Mr Ajaka said that the main cause of the health crisis was the victims’ consumption of ethanol. [2] Ajaka had traced the Odigbo incident to locally brewed alcohol and herbal mixtures served at two naming ceremonies in communities including New Town, Odole, Okele, Orita Odigbo, Araromi-Obu and Oniparaga. [3] He disclosed that at one of the ceremonies, an outsider brought the drink consumed by guests. [3] The command said Babatunde was suspected to be involved in the production of substances suspected to contain methanol. [1] The development follows the arrest of one Oloruntoba Babatunde, a.k.a. “Meko,” who is suspected to be involved in the production of substances suspected to contain methanol. [2] One of those arrested is Oloruntoba Babatunde, alias “Meko,” who is suspected of being involved in the production of the toxic substance believed to contain methanol. [3]

Government and Medical Response

The state government had intensified its response to prevent the situation from spreading to other local government areas. [1] Medical and health officials, alongside other stakeholders, had been deployed to affected communities as soon as reports emerged. [1] The state is collaborating with NAFDAC, NDLEA, DSS, NSCDC and other agencies in the ongoing probe. [3] The figure rose to 29 after additional five persons lost their lives as a result of the suspected poisoning, prompting stringent measures by the government, including the banning of the production and sales of unauthorised alcoholic substances in the state. [2] The state government was being proactive in preventing further spread to other local government areas, as medical and health officers and other stakeholders immediately moved wherever they heard of the report. [2] Surveillance and emergency response have been scaled up in the affected communities. [3] Ajaka warned residents to avoid unregulated drinks, saying even those marketed as herbal medicine can be deadly when contents are unknown. [3] The arrests followed the state government’s ban on the sale and distribution of unverified alcoholic drinks after 30 people reportedly died and 50 others were hospitalised in Odigbo after consuming the herbal alcoholic mixture. [3]

Police Arrests and Investigation

The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a man, Oloruntoba Babatunde, popularly known as “Meko,” over the production of a herbal liquid substance suspected to be linked to the health crisis. [1] The command also said 14 other persons were arrested for allegedly violating a ban on the sale of herbal products imposed by the local government. [1] The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed this in a statement, adding that the command had commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths. [1] Several suspects have been taken into custody to assist ongoing investigations. [2] The Ondo State Police Command earlier paraded a suspect it arrested in connection with the production and distribution of the poisonous drinks. [2] The command’s Public Relations Officer, Abayomi Jimoh, said the suspect was assisting the police in their investigations, while 14 others were arrested for violating the local government’s ban on the sale of the herbal products. [2] Substances suspected to be methanol had also been recovered and sent for forensic examination to determine their composition and possible link to the reported deaths. [3] The police said the bodies of the deceased were undergoing necessary medical and forensic procedures as investigations continued. [1]

Official Statements on Containment

The Chairman of the Odigbo Local Government Area, Mr Taiwo Adegoroye, had disclosed that the situation had subsided in the affected communities following interventions by the state and local government medical teams. [1] The Chairman of the Odigbo LGA, Taiwo Adegoroye, confirmed the deaths, saying the problem had been subdued as a result of the proactiveness of the state and local government area medical teams. [2] The Ondo State Police Command has contained the situation arising from reported cases of sudden and unnatural deaths involving youths in Araromi-Obu, Odigbo Local Government Area of the state, following sustained security, medical and investigative interventions. [1] Ajaka noted that Ondo’s rapid response was commended at a national meeting of health commissioners and officials of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. [3]

What to watch next: The command said it would provide further updates as the investigation progressed, with substances recovered sent for forensic examination to determine their composition and possible link to the reported deaths.