Twenty-four people have died in two Ondo State communities after consuming what authorities suspect to be a poisonous herbal drink, with several others still receiving treatment in hospitals.
The incident occurred in Araromi Obu and Odigbo town in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state . According to reports, the victims, mostly youths, consumed the substance on Saturday but later became unconscious, leading to their deaths. Some died in their sleep while others passed away after returning home .
A source in the area said, “They (the deceased) drank the herbal substance and started dying, eight people died in Araromi Obu while 16 lost their lives in Odigbo town” .
Preliminary findings by health officials suggest a possible link with the consumption of locally brewed alcoholic and herbal drinks, including a concoction popularly known as “Monkey Tail” . Some reports have also pointed to potential methanol contamination . However, authorities have stressed that investigations are ongoing to establish the exact cause of death.
Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Odigbo Local Government, Mr Taiwo Adegoroye, said the deceased consumed the substance before the incident, adding that they are waiting for a medical team to carry out autopsies. “We are yet to ascertain the cause of the death and we are still waiting for the team from the state Ministry of Health to carry out the test on the deceased,” he said .
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, also confirmed the incident, saying investigations are underway. “The government is taking the matter seriously and we will provide more details after the ongoing investigation has established the circumstances surrounding the incident,” Ajaka stated .
Adegoroye has placed a ban on the sale and consumption of locally brewed alcoholic drinks in the area as a precautionary measure . The Permanent Secretary of the Ondo State Ministry of Health, Dr Ayodele Adeji, disclosed that laboratory analysis of samples collected by the medical team is still ongoing .
Meanwhile, some youths in the town staged a protest and went to the palace of the Odigbo traditional ruler, Oba Rufus Akinrinmade, to demand explanations and urgent measures to prevent further loss of life. The monarch appealed for calm, assuring them that efforts would be made to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the deaths and find a lasting solution .
