More than 30 people have reportedly died and over 50 others have been hospitalised after consuming suspected adulterated locally made alcoholic drinks in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The deaths occurred in Odigbo town, Newtown, Orita and Araromi-Obu, prompting the local government to ban the sale and consumption of locally made alcohol.
A male seller allegedly linked to the drinks has also been arrested and handed over to the police in Akure for investigation.
Sources revealed that the Chairman of Odigbo Local Government, Adegoroye Taiwo, confirmed the arrest and said investigations were continuing to establish the source of the substance.
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Medical experts and toxicologists who carried out preliminary checks found that the deaths were linked to adulterated locally made alcoholic drinks. This was maintained by Vanguard in a Friday report.
At the time of filing this report, the incident has led to a medical response from the state government, after Adegoroye alerted Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
Medical team investigates suspected toxic drinks
Adegoroye said the medical team sent from Akure included officials from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, and the World Health Organisation.
He said the team would provide official figures on the number of people who died and those receiving treatment.
Earlier information had put the number of deaths at about 27, with 30 people hospitalised. The figures later rose as more deaths were recorded in the affected communities.
The council has also directed security agencies to arrest and prosecute people who sell or consume locally made alcohol in violation of the ban.
The chairman said some of the drinks were known by different local names.
“Those people that died consumed toxic alcohol. People call it Jeji, Ere, giving it different names.
He also identified locally made drinks that had not been approved by NAFDAC as part of the substances examined by toxicologists.
“Those drinks that are not approved by NAFDAC like ogogoro, ethanol. Those are the drinks that was the primary test based on the result of the toxicologists that came.”
The investigation is expected to establish the source of the substance and provide official medical findings on the deaths.
Survivor loses sight after drinking ‘Monkey Tail’
The effect of the suspected toxic drink was also described by a 32-year-old survivor, Shola Adebayo, who said he lost his sight after drinking a locally made alcoholic drink called Monkey Tail.
Adebayo, as reported by Vanguard on Friday, said a friend brought the drink from Ore and he took two shots.
The next day, he noticed that his sight had become poor and contacted his sister, who took him to hospital.
Besides, a relative of some victims reportedly identified as Adebayo Adetayo Adedeji said three young men died in the incident. They were Leo, Bidemi and Matthew, with Bidemi (his cousin).
Adedeji said Bidemi had not been known to have any illness before he suddenly complained of dizziness and died.
He supported the local government’s ban, saying it could prevent further deaths in the area.
“If they had not banned the drinking or selling of alcohol in the local government, by now the Odigbo Local Government would have been a death depot.”
The traditional ruler of Odigbo Kingdom, Oba Dr Rufus Akinrimade, also rejected claims that the deaths were caused by a cultural abomination.
“At the end of the day, we realised it was caused by taking of different alcoholic substances, locally made alcohol. I think the death was caused by the intake of alcohol,” said the monarch.
Residents, particularly young people, have been advised to be careful about what they consume.
Health authorities are still investigating the incident, with the medical team expected to provide official figures on the fatalities and hospitalisations.
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