Ondo alcohol poisoning death toll rises to 49, 170 affected

The death toll from suspected alcohol poisoning in some communities in Ondo State has risen to 49, with 170 people recorded as affected by the incident.

The incident was first reported on Saturday, September 5, in Odigbo town and Araromi-Obu in Odigbo Local Government Area after residents reportedly consumed a herbal liquid substance.

Some of those affected allegedly became unconscious before dying at different locations.

Following the deaths, the Ondo State Government on September 13 banned the sale and distribution of unverified alcoholic drinks and other substances in the state.

The Ondo State Police Command subsequently arrested one Oloruntoba Babatunde for allegedly producing the harmful alcoholic substances.

Speaking with journalists on Wednesday, the state Commissioner for Health, Banji Ajaka, said the casualty figure had increased and that the incident had also been reported in Irele Local Government Area.

Ajaka said eight people died in Irele LGA on Tuesday, bringing the death toll to 49.

“As we are now, Irele (LGA) is where we have serious issue now, our people were there and many people have died. About eight people have been recorded to have died as at yesterday’s night,” he said.

The commissioner said the number of affected persons had risen to 170, including those who had died and those receiving medical treatment.

“So all the people that have been affected altogether now is about 170, those that have been admitted and those that have died,” he said.

Ajaka said the main cause of the alcohol poisoning was the consumption of ethanol by the victims.

He added that the state government was working to prevent the spread of the cases to other local government areas.