The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a suspect in connection with the recent wave of sudden deaths in Araromi-Obu, Odigbo Local Government Area of the state, and recovered substances suspected to contain methanol as investigations into the incident intensify.
The suspect, identified as Oloruntoba Babatunde, popularly known as “Meko,” was arrested for his alleged involvement in the production of substances suspected to contain methanol.
Police said the suspect is assisting investigators, while the recovered substances have been subjected to forensic examination to determine their composition and any possible link to the deaths recorded in the community.
The Police Public Relations Officer DSP Abayomi Jimoh, in a press briefing said the command had contained the situation through coordinated security, medical and investigative interventions.
According to the police, investigations have commenced into the circumstances surrounding the deaths, while post-mortem examinations are being conducted on the bodies of the deceased to establish the actual causes of death.
The command added that health officials had intensified medical intervention in the affected community, with several youths taken to the Odigbo Local Government medical facility for assessment, testing and treatment.
As part of efforts to prevent further casualties, the Commissioner of Police, Felix Ohagwu, directed officers of the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to launch an enforcement operation under relevant provisions of the Liquor Act targeting the sale and consumption of dangerous alcoholic drinks and herbal concoctions.
The operation, carried out across Ore and Odigbo, led to the arrest of 14 persons alleged to be sellers and consumers of the suspected substances.
Police listed the suspects as Ayemobola Abayomi, Ebeyilo Oyekan, Fadeyi Folake, Febisola Solomon, Olamojiba Akinyosoye, Julius Ogeichi, Seyifunmi Aduke, Adesanmi Toyin, Oluwoye Amaka, Adeyayi Ojo, Adebayo Olaniyi, Raphael Emeka, Adenuga Oluwaseun and Adediwura Godwin.
The command disclosed that the case had been transferred to the State CID in Akure for comprehensive investigation, while a team of detectives visited Araromi-Obu on September 12 to gather additional evidence.
Abayomi said investigators were examining every relevant lead, including the source, production, distribution and consumption of the suspected substances and their possible connection to the deaths.
He noted that the suspects remain in police custody and would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
Ohagwu reiterated the command’s commitment to protecting lives and preventing the circulation of harmful substances, directing sustained enforcement against the production, distribution and sale of unapproved, adulterated or dangerous alcoholic products across the state.
The police also advised residents to avoid consuming locally produced, unlabelled or suspicious alcoholic drinks and herbal concoctions whose contents and safety cannot be verified, urging members of the public to report the production or sale of suspected harmful substances to the nearest police station.