Tension has heightened in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State following the death of 24 persons – mostly youths – from suspected poisoning linked to the consumption of sachet concoctions and locally brewed alcoholic drinks.
The deaths, which occurred at the weekend across Odigbo and Araromi-Obu communities, have prompted the local government to impose an immediate ban on the sale and consumption of locally produced alcoholic beverages with health officials making frantic efforts to determine the exact cause of the fatalities.
Several other victims are currently receiving treatment in hospitals, with medical personnel working to stabilise those affected by the suspected poisoning.
Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Ajaka, confirmed the incident and disclosed that investigations are underway to establish the actual cause of the deaths.
The commissioner, however, did not disclose the specific substance suspected to have caused the fatalities, stressing that medical and health officials were expected to conduct further assessments in the affected communities.
Ajaka said government is taking the matter seriously and would provide more details after the ongoing investigation has established the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Ayodele Adeji, revealed that early findings point to potential methanol contamination.
Health
He, however, stressed that laboratory analysis of samples collected by the medical team is still ongoing, adding that further investigations would be required to establish whether there was any direct connection between the consumption of the locally brewed drinks and the reported deaths.
Also, the Chairman of Odigbo Local Government Area, Taiwo Adegoroye, stated that preliminary investigation conducted by the local government health team indicate a possible link between the reported deaths and the consumption of the substances.