•Council bans local alcoholic drinks
By Duchess Ifeoluwa
Fear and anxiety have gripped residents of Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State following the reported deaths of no fewer than 24 persons in what is suspected to be a poisoning incident linked to the consumption of locally produced alcoholic and herbal drinks.
The deaths were reportedly recorded in Odigbo town and neighbouring communities, including Araromi-Obu, over the weekend, while several other suspected victims are said to be receiving treatment in various hospitals.
The circumstances surrounding the deaths initially remained unclear, as some of the victims were reportedly found dead in their residences, while others were said to have died while asleep.
The development triggered tension among residents, particularly youths, who took to the streets and proceeded to the palace of the traditional ruler of Odigbo, Oba Rufus Akinrinmade, demanding urgent intervention and clarification on the cause of the deaths.
Addressing the youths, Oba Akinrinmade appealed for calm and assured the protesters that efforts would be made to unravel the circumstances surrounding the deaths and find a lasting solution to the situation.
On Wednesday, health authorities in Ondo State commenced investigations into the reported fatalities.
The Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, confirmed the incident, saying the government was investigating to establish the actual cause of the deaths.
Ajaka, however, declined to immediately identify the substance suspected to have caused the deaths, stressing that medical experts needed to conduct further assessments and laboratory examinations before any definitive conclusion could be reached.
Also speaking on the development, the Permanent Secretary, Ondo State Ministry of Health, Dr Ayodele Adiji, said preliminary findings suggested a possible link between the deaths and the consumption of locally brewed alcoholic beverages and herbal concoctions.
Adiji specifically mentioned a locally produced drink popularly known as “Monkey Tail”, as well as other locally prepared herbal and ethanol-based drinks.
He stressed, however, that laboratory analysis of samples collected by the medical team was still ongoing, noting that further toxicological investigations were required to establish whether the consumption of the products was directly responsible for the deaths.
The Chairman of Odigbo Local Government, Hon. Taiwo Adegoroye, confirmed the reported deaths and said the council had taken precautionary measures pending the outcome of the investigation.
Adegoroye subsequently imposed a one-month ban on the sale and consumption of locally brewed alcoholic drinks and similar sachet herbal concoctions in the council area.
According to him, the decision was taken as a preventive measure to protect residents while medical and health authorities conduct investigations into the incident.
He said a preliminary verbal autopsy conducted by the local government health team indicated a possible link between the reported deaths and consumption of the substances, but emphasised that the exact cause could only be established through proper medical and toxicological examinations.
The council chairman warned that anyone found selling, distributing or promoting the banned locally produced alcoholic drinks and related substances during the period of the restriction would face arrest and prosecution in accordance with the law.
The reported deaths have heightened concerns among residents over the safety of unregulated alcoholic beverages, herbal concoctions and other substances sold in sachets and widely consumed in parts of the communities.
Meanwhile, residents of the affected areas have been urged to exercise caution and refrain from consuming suspicious herbal concoctions, locally brewed alcoholic drinks or unverified sachet products until the authorities conclude their investigations.
Speaking with Nigerian Monitor, a resident of Odigbo, Mrs Bose Alex, said most of the people who died from the suspected poisoning were said to have drank at a popular joint under the tree at New Town area.
She said the youths who were regular callers at the joint took what they referred to as “Ounje Agba”, and many of them were suspected to be among the people who died at their residences or currently at the medical facilities in the local government.
Mrs Alex stated that the blow inflicted on the community by the sudden deaths of their loved ones can only be unravelled by the government investigators.
