The death toll from suspected poisoning linked to the consumption of locally brewed alcoholic substances in two communities in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State has risen to 32.
The affected communities are Araromi-Obu and Odigbo, where several residents, mostly youths, reportedly fell ill after consuming substances suspected to be herbal alcoholic drinks.
Chairman of Odigbo Local Government, Taiwo Adegoroye, confirmed the latest death toll in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday.
Adegoroye said an unconfirmed number of victims were still receiving treatment in hospitals in Ore, Araromi-Obu and other private medical facilities within the affected communities.
The latest figure represents an increase from the 24 deaths initially reported after residents consumed the suspected substances.
According to Adegoroye, the person who allegedly sold the suspected herbal concoction has been arrested by the police and is being investigated.
He added that the police, Amotekun Corps and other security agencies had commenced a clampdown on sellers of herbal concoctions across the local government area.
Adegoroye said authorities were yet to establish the exact cause of the deaths, adding that the Ondo State Ministry of Health and other relevant agencies were working to determine what caused the suspected poisoning.
“It is now a taboo for anyone to sell or trade any herbal concoction either in plastic or sachet and other firms in Odigbo Local Government Area, and anyone caught will be arrested by security agencies.
“Public enlightenment has began across the local government as meetings have been held with traditional rulers, Iyalojas, and commercial motorists to desist from taking unregulated herbal concoction.
“We’re also engaging in public enlightenment campaign through radio jingles and social media to educate the public against the sale and intake of herbal concoction.
“The death toll of victims has risen to 32 but we can not ascertain the number of victims now in several General Hospitals because anyone found with the symptoms by doctors are being taken to the hospitals for test and diagnosis.
“Several medical doctors, health practitioners, toxicologists from the state Ministry of Health, National Agency for Food, Drug Control and Administration (NAFDAC), Nigeria Centre for Disease and Control (NCDC), World Health Organisation (WHO) are on ground to do their investigations,” he said.
The local government chairman commended residents, security agencies, health workers and other relevant bodies for their prompt response to the incident.
He also praised Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for the immediate deployment of the state Ministry of Health, security agencies and other relevant bodies to investigate the incident and determine its cause.
Authorities are continuing their investigations as efforts are also being intensified to prevent further consumption and sale of the suspected herbal alcoholic substances in the affected communities.
Source: NAN
