Tension has risen in parts of Ondo State following the deaths of 24 people, mostly youths, in Odigbo Local Government Area over the weekend.
The victims reportedly died after consuming sachet-based alcoholic mixtures and locally brewed alcoholic drinks, although authorities have yet to establish the exact cause of the deaths.
The incident affected communities including Odigbo and Araromi-Obu, prompting the local government to immediately ban the sale and consumption of locally produced alcoholic beverages.
Several other people affected in the incident are currently receiving treatment at different hospitals, where medical workers are trying to stabilise their conditions.
The Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, confirmed the deaths and said investigations were ongoing to determine what caused the fatalities.
Ajaka explained that officials had not yet identified the specific substance responsible, adding that health authorities were conducting further assessments in the affected communities.
He said the state government was treating the matter seriously and would release additional information once investigations established the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
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The Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Health, Dr Ayodele Adeji, disclosed that preliminary findings suggested possible methanol contamination.
However, he stressed that laboratory tests on samples collected by the medical team were still ongoing. He added that further investigations were necessary to determine whether the locally brewed alcoholic drinks were directly responsible for the deaths.
The Chairman of Odigbo Local Government, Taiwo Adegoroye, also said preliminary findings from the council’s health team indicated a possible connection between the deaths and consumption of the substances.
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