NB247
The Ondo State Government has confirmed more deaths in connection with the consumption of suspected poisonous alcoholic drinks in Odigbo local government area of the state.
According to the updated figures, 49 fatalities have now been reported as against 39 which was reported last week.
Commissioner for Health, Banji Ajaka, told journalists in Akure on Wednesday, that the incident has been reported in Irele Local Government with eight fatalities recorded in the area.
The total number of cases has also increased from 60 as of last Friday to 170.
The crisis started with 24 deaths. The figure rose to 29 a week later, prompting stringent measures by the government including the banning of the production and sales of unauthorised alcoholic substances in the state.
As of Friday the figure had risen to 29 after additional five persons lost their lives as a result of the suspected poisoning.
Mr Ajaka said on Friday that several suspects have been taken into custody to assist ongoing investigations.
Communities earlier affected include New Town, Odole, Okele and Orita Odigbo in Odigbo Ward, and subsequently in Araromi Obu.
Suspected cases were also reported at Oniparaga, all in Odigbo.
Giving further update on the issue on Wednesday, the commissioner said the matter had extended to Irele Local Government where eight people were reported to have died after consuming substances suspected to be locally brewed alcoholic drinks.
“As we are now , Irele (LG) 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.
“So all the people that have been affected altogether now is about 170, those that have been admitted and those that have died. “
Mr Ajaka further said that the main cause of the health crisis was the consumption of ethanol by the victims.
He however noted that the state government was being proactive about it to prevent further spread to other local governments as the medical and health officers and other stakeholders immediately moved to anywhere they heard the report.
” We are always fast about it wherever and whenever we heard the report of the issue, our teams are already in Irele as I’m talking to you now, ” he added.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Odigbo Local Government, Taiwo Adegoroye, confirmed the deaths, saying the problem had been subdued as a result of the proactiveness of the state and local government medical teams.
The Ondo State Police Command earlier paraded a suspected it arrested in connection with the production and distribution of the poisonous drinks.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, Abayomi Jimoh, said the suspect was assisting the police in their investigations, while 14 others were arrested for violating the ban order placed on sales of the herbal products by the local government.
“The Ondo State Police Command has contained the situation arising from reported cases of sudden and unnatural deaths involving youths in Araromi-Obu, Odigbo Local Government Area of the state, following sustained security, medical and investigative interventions,” Mr Jimoh said.
”The development follows the arrest of one Oloruntoba Babatunde, a.k.a ‘Meko,’ who is suspected to be involved in the production of substances suspected to contain methanol and is currently assisting the police with investigations.”
Despite the ban on the locally produced drinks, many users of the products have not stopped buying them from sellers who are making them available to their customers.
One of the users who spoke to this reporter on Wednesday, claimed the drink is medicinal for curing back pains and other stomach issues.
He had argued that not all the products are poisonous and was sure to ensure he was buying from the right source.