The Ondo State Government has confirmed the deaths of 24 people in Odigbo Local Government Area following the reported consumption of a herbal substance.
The victims, comprising eight residents of Araromi Obu and 16 from Odigbo town, reportedly consumed the substance before developing health complications, with several others hospitalized.
The incident has thrown the affected communities into mourning, while authorities have launched investigations to determine the actual cause of the deaths.
A source in the area said the victims consumed the substance at different locations before some became unconscious and later died, while others were rushed to hospitals for treatment.
The source said, “They drank the herbal substance and started dying. Eight people died in Araromi Obu, while 16 lost their lives in Odigbo town.
We are yet to confirm if what they drank caused their deaths, but we are sure the deaths occurred after they consumed the herbal drinks.
“Some of the people died in their sleep, while others died after they got home. Many are still in the hospital as I am speaking to you.”
Confirming the deaths in a telephone interview, the Chairman of Odigbo Local Government, Taiwo Adegoroye, said the local government was awaiting a medical team from the state Ministry of Health to conduct tests and autopsies to establish the actual cause of the deaths.
“We can confirm the death of 24 people, eight in Araromi Obu and 16 in Odigbo town, while many are still on admission in hospitals.
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But we are yet to ascertain the actual cause of the deaths, and we are still waiting for the team from the state Ministry of Health to carry out tests on the deceased,” Adegoroye said.
The chairman also said he had ordered a ban on the sale and consumption of locally brewed alcoholic drinks in the area as a precautionary measure.
According to him, a preliminary verbal autopsy conducted by the local government health team indicated a possible link between the reported deaths and consumption of the substances.
Similarly, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview, saying investigations were ongoing to establish the actual cause of the deaths.
Ajaka did not disclose the specific substance suspected to be responsible for the deaths but said medical and health officials would conduct further assessments in the affected communities.
“The government is taking the matter seriously, and we will provide more details after the ongoing investigation has established the circumstances surrounding the incident,” he said.
Meanwhile, some youths in Odigbo town staged a mini-protest and proceeded to the palace of the traditional ruler, Oba Rufus Akinrinmade, to demand explanations and urgent measures to prevent further loss of lives.
Addressing the youths, the monarch appealed for calm and assured them that efforts would be made to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths and find a lasting solution to the situation.
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