Tension has heightened in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State following the deaths of 24 persons, mostly youths, from suspected poisoning linked to the consumption of sachet concoctions and locally brewed alcoholic drinks.
The deaths reportedly occurred over the weekend in Odigbo and Araromi-Obu communities, prompting the local government authorities to impose an immediate ban on the sale and consumption of locally produced alcoholic beverages in the affected areas.
Several other persons who reportedly consumed the substances are currently receiving treatment in hospitals, as medical personnel work to stabilise those affected.
The Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, confirmed the incident and said investigations were ongoing to determine the actual cause of the deaths.
“Government is taking the matter seriously and will provide more details after the ongoing investigation has established the circumstances surrounding the incident,” Ajaka said.
The commissioner did not disclose the specific substance suspected to have caused the fatalities, stressing that further medical assessments were being conducted in the affected communities.
Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary, Ondo State Ministry of Health, Dr Ayodele Adeji, said preliminary findings pointed to possible methanol contamination.
Adeji, however, cautioned that the suspected cause had not been conclusively established, noting that laboratory analysis of samples collected by the medical team was still ongoing.
“Early findings pointed to potential methanol contamination,” the permanent secretary said, adding that further investigations were necessary to determine whether there was a direct connection between the consumption of the locally brewed drinks and the reported deaths.
Also, the Chairman of Odigbo Local Government, Taiwo Adegoroye, said preliminary investigations by the council’s health team indicated a possible link between the reported deaths and consumption of the substances.
The local government’s ban on the sale and consumption of locally produced alcoholic beverages is expected to remain in place as health officials continue investigations and await laboratory results to establish the exact cause of the fatalities.
