In Ondo State, the number of people who have died as a result of consuming a potentially toxic herbal beverage has increased to 49. The health crisis is reportedly affecting approximately 170 people.
Eight deaths have been reported in the Irele Local Government Area as a result of the incident, which was first reported in the Araromi-Obu and Odigbo communities in the Odigbo Local Government Area.
At least 24 citizens of Araromi-Obu and Odigbo were proven dead after ingesting the drug, according to report.
Eight persons perished in Araromi-Obu and sixteen others in Odigbo, according to Mr. Taiwo Adegoroye, the chairman of the Odigbo Local Government Area.
But after that, the death toll increased to 27, and as of Wednesday, it stood at 49.
Adegoroye stated that when the state and local government medical personnel intervened, the situation in the impacted communities had improved.
Dr. Banji Ajaka, the state commissioner for health, verified over the phone with our correspondent that the number of affected individuals had increased and that the health crisis had spread to the Irele Local Government Area.
As of Tuesday nite, eight individuals were reported deceased in Irele, according to Ajaka.
“As of right now, Irele is where we have a serious issue,” he stated. Numerous deaths occurred while our personnel were present. As of last nite, about eight deaths had been reported.
“There are currently about 170 people affected overall, including those who have been admitted and those who have passed away.”
The commissioner stated that the state government has stepped up its reaction to stop the health catastrophe from spreading to other local government districts, attributing it to the victims’ ethanol drinking.
He said that as soon as allegations surfaced, medical and health experts had been sent to the impacted communities along with other stakeholders.
“We always move quickly. As I speak to you now, our teams are in Irele wherever and whenever we hear about the problem,” Ajaka continued.
In the meantime, Oloruntoba Babatunde, also known as “Meko,” has been detained by the Ondo State Police Command for producing a herbal beverage that may be connected to the health issue.
According to the command, 14 further people were detained for allegedly breaking a local government-imposed prohibition on the selling of herbal items.
This was revealed in a statement by DSP Abayomi Jimoh, the state police public relations officer, who also mentioned that the command had started looking into the circumstances of the fatalities.
The statement said that after persistent security, medical, and investigation measures, the police had managed to contain the situation.
“After persistent security, medical, and investigative interventions, the Ondo State Police Command has contained the situation arising from reported cases of sudden and unnatural deaths involving youths in Araromi-Obu, Odigbo Local Government Area of the state,” the statement stated.
Babatunde was helping the police with their investigations and was suspected of being involved in the production of chemicals that may contain methanol, according to the command.
According to the statement, “the development follows the arrest of one Oloruntoba Babatunde, a.k.a. ‘Meko,’ who is currently assisting the police with investigations and is suspected of being involved in the production of substances suspected to contain methanol.”
The police said as investigations were ongoing, the deceased’s remains were undergoing the required forensic and medical processes.
As the inquiry developed, the command promised to offer additional updates.
