The Ondo State Government on the night of Friday, September 11, confirmed the deaths of 29 people from suspected poisoning linked to the consumption of alcoholic substances in Odigbo Local Government Area, with 60 suspected cases recorded.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, said three victims were currently receiving treatment in hospitals, while 27 others remained under medical observation. He said 95 per cent of those affected were males aged between 16 and 55, with cases reported in several communities, including Orita Odigbo, Araromi-Obu and Newtown.
Ajaka said affected persons presented symptoms including headache, body pain, weakness, visual disturbance, breathing difficulty and altered consciousness. He said the pattern of illness had raised strong suspicion of exposure to a toxic alcoholic substance, although laboratory confirmation of the cause was still pending.
The commissioner said 36 blood and urine samples, as well as samples of the suspected alcoholic substances, had been collected for laboratory and toxicological investigations. He added that several suspects were in custody and that the state government had temporarily banned the production and sale of locally brewed alcoholic and herbal alcoholic beverages in the affected area.
Ajaka urged residents to avoid alcoholic products from unlicensed sources and seek immediate medical attention if they develop symptoms such as blurred vision, breathing difficulty, sudden weakness, confusion or loss of consciousness after consuming alcohol. He assured the public that the government was working with relevant national and international partners to determine the cause and prevent further deaths.
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