The death toll from suspected poisonous alcohol consumption in Ondo State has risen to 49, with about 170 people now affected, according to the state government.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, said the latest fatalities included eight people in Irele Local Government Area, where health officials have intensified surveillance and emergency response.
Ajaka said the government’s response teams had been deployed to Irele after reports of the deaths emerged, as authorities moved to prevent the incident from spreading to other parts of the state.
“As we are now, Irele is where we have serious issue now. Our people were there and many people have died. About eight people have been recorded to have died as at yesterday’s night,” he said.
The commissioner said the total number of affected persons, including those hospitalised and those who died, had reached about 170.
He added that Ondo had mobilised medical and health officials to communities where suspected cases were reported, saying the state was acting quickly whenever new information emerged.
The investigation is being conducted in collaboration with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Department of State Services, DSS, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, among other agencies.
Ajaka said the state’s rapid response to the incident had received commendation at a national meeting involving health commissioners and officials of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC.
The latest development follows an earlier outbreak in Odigbo Local Government Area, where 30 people reportedly died and 50 others were hospitalised after consuming a locally brewed herbal alcoholic mixture.
Ajaka had linked the Odigbo incident to locally produced alcohol and herbal mixtures consumed at two naming ceremonies in New Town, Odole, Okele, Orita Odigbo, Araromi-Obu and Oniparaga communities.
According to him, an outsider brought the drink consumed by guests at one of the ceremonies.
The commissioner warned residents against consuming unregulated alcoholic products, including drinks promoted as herbal remedies, noting that their unknown contents could pose serious health risks.
Meanwhile, the Ondo State Police Command said it had arrested 15 suspects over the sale and distribution of the herbal alcoholic mixture popularly called “monkey tail.”
Police spokesman, DSP Jimoh Abayomi, said investigations were ongoing into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
One of those arrested, Oloruntoba Babatunde, also known as “Meko,” is suspected of involvement in producing the substance, which authorities believe may contain methanol.
Abayomi said suspected methanol substances recovered by the police had been sent for forensic examination to establish their composition and determine whether they were connected to the reported deaths.
The state government subsequently banned the sale and distribution of unverified alcoholic drinks following the Odigbo fatalities.
