No fewer than 24 people have been confirmed dead in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State following a suspected poisoning incident, with several others receiving treatment in hospitals.
The deaths, recorded between Sunday and Tuesday, occurred in Odigbo, Araromi-Obu and Orita New Town, throwing residents of the affected communities into panic and prompting urgent intervention by health authorities.
It was gathered that about 18 people died of the suspected poisoning, while six people were also said to have died from the same herbal consumption in the Araromi-Obu area of the local government area.
Although the exact cause of the deaths has not been conclusively established, preliminary findings by health officials suggested a possible link with the consumption of locally brewed alcoholic and herbal drinks, including a concoction popularly known as ‘Monkey Tail.’
The development triggered protests by youths and residents of the towns, who proceeded to the palace of the traditional ruler of the town, Oba Rufus Akinrinmade, demanding urgent action to unravel the circumstances surrounding the deaths and prevent further fatalities.
Addressing the protesters, the traditional ruler appealed for calm and assured them that relevant authorities were working to establish the cause of the deaths and find a lasting solution to the situation.
Speaking on the development, the council Chairman, Hon Taiwo Adegoroye, who confirmed the development, said most of the victims were affected by the consumption of locally brewed alcoholic drinks.
The Chairman, however, said a one-month ban on the sale and consumption of locally brewed alcoholic and herbal drinks has been imposed in the area as a precautionary measure.
Adegoroye said the decision followed preliminary findings by the council’s health team and was aimed at protecting residents while investigations continued.
He warned that anyone found selling or distributing the banned drinks during the period of the restriction would be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Residents of the affected communities have also been urged to avoid consuming locally brewed alcoholic drinks, herbal concoctions and other unverified products pending the outcome of the investigation.
Confirming the fatalities, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, said investigations were ongoing to determine the actual cause of the deaths.
Ajaka, however, did not disclose the specific substance suspected to have caused the deaths, but said medical and health officials had embarked on an investigation to unravel the causes of the deaths.
The Commissioner said the government was taking the matter seriously and would provide more details after the ongoing investigation had established the circumstances surrounding the incident.
He added that further details would be made available after medical examinations and laboratory investigations had been concluded.
The Permanent Secretary, Ondo State Ministry of Health, Dr Ayodele Adiji, said preliminary investigations indicated a possible connection between the deaths and consumption of locally produced alcoholic and herbal concoctions.
He, however, stressed that the suspected link had not been conclusively established, noting that samples collected from the affected communities were undergoing laboratory and toxicological analyses.