Killer drink: Death toll reaches 49, 170 affected in Ondo

By Boye Oyeyemi

The number of people who have died after consuming a suspected poisonous herbal concoction in Ondo State has risen to 49, while about 170 others have been affected.

The health crisis, which began in Araromi-Obu and Odigbo in Odigbo Local Government Area, has spread to Irele LGA, where eight deaths have so far been reported.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Ajaka, confirmed the development on Wednesday, saying Irele had emerged as the latest area of concern.

Ajaka said about 170 victims had either been hospitalised or died, noting that the government had deployed medical personnel and other officials to the affected communities to contain the situation.

The commissioner attributed the incident to the consumption of ethanol by the victims and said the response had been intensified to stop the crisis from extending to other parts of the state.

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

The police also arrested 14 others for allegedly violating a local government ban on the sale of herbal products, according to the command’s spokesperson, DSP Abayomi Jimoh.

Jimoh said the police had commenced investigation into the deaths, adding that the bodies of the victims were undergoing medical and forensic examinations, while Babatunde remained in custody to assist investigators.