The Ondo State Government has disclosed that the deadly poisoning incident in Odigbo Local Government Area, which has claimed 30 lives, was traced to alcoholic-herbal substances allegedly consumed during naming ceremonies, while confirming that a suspect has been arrested in connection with the case.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Ajaka, said preliminary investigations revealed that the outbreak originated after a locally produced alcoholic substance was brought to a naming ceremony and shared among guests.
According to him, the contaminated substance was linked to the mass casualties recorded in parts of Odigbo and Araromi Obu communities.
“The issue emanated from where a family held a naming ceremony, from investigation. Somebody, not even the parents, procured this alcoholic substance from somewhere and brought it for people to merry. That’s it, and from merry-making to the other side,” Ajaka said.
He added that investigators had identified two separate naming ceremonies connected to the spread of the poisoning.
“In fact, there are two instances where naming ceremonies were involved, which led to the massive involvement of people who died,” he stated.
As part of measures to curb further fatalities, the state government announced a ban on the production and sale of all locally brewed alcoholic and alcoholic-herbal beverages in Odigbo Local Government Area.
Ajaka said the decision was taken following epidemiological findings linking the deaths to suspected toxic alcoholic mixtures commonly sold in the area.
“Given the severity of the situation and the epidemiological evidence currently available, the government has taken precautionary steps to reduce further exposure,” he said.
He noted that the state response team, working with the Odigbo Local Government Authority, had imposed the ban while urging residents to report anyone producing or selling such substances to the nearest police station.
The commissioner also confirmed that one suspect had been taken into custody in connection with the production and distribution of the substances.
“I know of someone that has been taken into custody in Araromi Obu. One person, along with all his products, concoctions here and there, Monkey Tail and whatever, was taken into custody,” he said.
Ajaka disclosed that as of September 11, the state’s surveillance teams had documented 60 suspected cases linked to the poisoning outbreak, with 30 deaths recorded, three persons currently on admission and 27 others under observation.
According to the commissioner, the majority of victims were males aged between 16 and 55 years, while the affected communities include New Town, Odole, Okele, Orita Odigbo, Araromi Obu and Oniparaga.
He said health facilities in Ore and Araromi Obu had been strengthened with additional personnel, ambulances and medical commodities to manage affected patients.
Ajaka further revealed that the state government was intensifying efforts to regulate herbal and alternative medicine practices through the Ondo State Alternative Medical Practice Board.
“You can’t tell me that this herb can cure malaria, but you don’t know whether it will damage your kidney. It must be regulated, and we must know what they are selling to the people,” he said.
He added that the state was collaborating with agencies including the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria to strengthen oversight of herbal products and locally brewed substances.