Ondo herbal drink deaths rise to 49, 170 affected

The death toll from the consumption of a suspected poisonous herbal drink in Ondo State has risen to 49, with about 170 people reportedly affected by the health crisis.

The incident, which was initially reported in Araromi-Obu and Odigbo communities in the Odigbo Local Government Area, has also spread to the Irele Local Government Area, where eight deaths have been reported.

PUNCH Metro had earlier reported that at least 24 residents of Araromi-Obu and Odigbo were confirmed dead after consuming the substance.

The Chairman of the Odigbo Local Government Area, Mr Taiwo Adegoroye, had disclosed that eight people died in Araromi-Obu while 16 others died in Odigbo.

However, the death toll subsequently rose to 27 before reaching 49 as of Wednesday.

Adegoroye said the situation had subsided in the affected communities following interventions by the state and local government medical teams.

Speaking with our correspondent on the telephone, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, confirmed that the number of affected persons had increased and said the health crisis had extended to the Irele Local Government Area.

Ajaka said eight people had been reported dead in Irele as of Tuesday night.

He said, “As we are now, Irele is where we have a serious issue. Our people were there and many people have died. About eight people have been recorded to have died as of last night.

“So, all the people that have been affected altogether now are about 170, those that have been admitted and those that have died.”

The commissioner attributed the health crisis to the consumption of ethanol by the victims, adding that the state government had intensified its response to prevent the situation from spreading to other local government areas.

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He said medical and health officials, alongside other stakeholders, had been deployed to affected communities as soon as reports emerged.

“We are always fast about it. Wherever and whenever we hear reports of the issue, our teams are already in Irele as I’m talking to you now,” Ajaka added.

Meanwhile, the Ondo State Police Command has arrested a man, Oloruntoba Babatunde, popularly known as “Meko,” over the production of a herbal liquid substance suspected to be linked to the health crisis.

The command also said 14 other persons were arrested for allegedly violating a ban on the sale of herbal products imposed by the local government.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed this in a statement, adding that the command had commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

According to the statement, the police had contained the situation following sustained security, medical and investigative interventions.

“The Ondo State Police Command has contained the situation arising from reported cases of sudden and unnatural deaths involving youths in Araromi-Obu, Odigbo Local Government Area of the state, following sustained security, medical and investigative interventions,” the statement read.

The command said Babatunde was suspected to be involved in the production of substances suspected to contain methanol and was assisting the police with investigations.

“The development follows the arrest of one Oloruntoba Babatunde, a.k.a. ‘Meko,’ who is suspected to be involved in the production of substances suspected to contain methanol and is currently assisting the police with investigations,” the statement added.

The police said the bodies of the deceased were undergoing necessary medical and forensic procedures as investigations continued.

The command said it would provide further updates as the investigation progressed.