Ondo police arrest 14 over suspected deadly drinks, recover methanol
By Boye Oyeyemi
The Ondo State Police Command has arrested 14 people over the alleged sale and consumption of dangerous alcoholic drinks and concoctions linked to the reported deaths of youths in Araromi-Obu, Odigbo Local Government Area.
The arrests followed reports of sudden and unexplained deaths allegedly associated with the consumption of suspected herbal drinks and other substances. Western Post had reported that at least 27 people died in the community.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed this in a statement issued Sunday, saying the arrests followed an enforcement operation ordered by the Commissioner of Police, CP Felix Ohagwu, across Ore and Odigbo.
Among those arrested was Oloruntoba Babatunde, popularly known as “Meko,” who was allegedly producing substances suspected to contain methanol. Police said the suspected methanol recovered from him had been submitted for forensic examination to determine its composition and possible connection to the reported deaths.
According to the statement, the 14 suspects comprised alleged sellers and consumers of the drinks and concoctions. They are Ayemobola Abayomi, Ebeyilo Oyekan, Fadeyi Folake, Febisola Solomon, Olamojiba Akinyosoye, Julius Ogeichi, Seyifunmi Aduke, Adesanmi Toyin, Oluwoye Amaka, Adeyayi Ojo, Adebayo Olaniyi, Raphael Emeka, Adenuga Oluwaseun and Adediwura Godwin.
The command said detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department, Akure, visited Araromi-Obu on Sept. 12 to gather evidence and advance the investigation. Meanwhile, the bodies of the deceased are undergoing medical and forensic procedures, including post-mortem examinations, to establish the actual causes of death.
Police said several youths from the affected community had also been taken to the Odigbo Local Government medical facility for assessment, testing and treatment. The case has been transferred to the State CID in Akure for discreet and comprehensive investigation into the source, production, composition, distribution and consumption of the suspected substances.
The command urged residents to avoid unlabelled, locally produced or suspicious alcoholic drinks and herbal concoctions whose contents and safety cannot be verified. It also urged the public to report the production or sale of suspected harmful substances to the police, assuring that anyone found culpable would be brought to justice.
