RismadarVoice Reporters
September 13, 2026
No fewer than 60 people remain hospitalised in Ondo State following the consumption of suspected poisonous herbal alcoholic drinks in Odigbo Local Government Area, while the reported death toll from the incident has risen to 29.
The Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, disclosed the latest figures on Sunday during a press conference in Akure, the state capital, as health authorities continued efforts to treat victims and determine the substance responsible for the deaths.
The affected communities include Orita Odigbo, Araromi-Obu, Newtown, Odole, Okele and Oniparaga, all within Odigbo Local Government Area.
Ajaka said the majority of those affected were males, with about 95 per cent of the victims aged between 16 and 55 years.
The commissioner described the incident as a rapidly progressing public health emergency, noting that some victims reportedly died within hours of consuming the suspected substance, while most of the fatalities occurred within 24 hours.
“There are many victims. At a point, we had up to 60 people on admission at the hospital,” Ajaka said, adding that some affected residents did not initially seek medical attention.
The reported death toll includes residents of Araromi-Obu and Odigbo town, where local authorities initially recorded fewer fatalities before the number increased as more deaths were confirmed.
Chairman of Odigbo Local Government Area, Taiwo Adegoroye, had earlier said eight people died in Araromi-Obu and 16 in Odigbo, with the overall number subsequently rising to 29.
Health officials said victims presented with severe symptoms, including intense headaches, sharp body pains, extreme weakness, blurred or impaired vision, respiratory distress and loss of consciousness.
Some patients reportedly experienced rapid deterioration of their condition and organ failure shortly after exposure to the suspected substance.
Ajaka said the clinical symptoms and pattern of the outbreak were strongly suggestive of poisoning linked to an alcoholic herbal preparation, although the exact chemical substance responsible had yet to be established.
He said authorities had sent 36 clinical blood and urine samples, together with confiscated samples of the suspected beverages, for urgent toxicological examination.
“The clinical presentation and epidemiological trend strongly point toward exposure to a poisonous alcoholic brew, while laboratory evidence is still being processed to establish the exact chemical culprit,” the commissioner said.
The ongoing laboratory investigation is expected to determine the precise toxic agent involved and assist authorities in establishing how the suspected drinks caused the rapid deterioration and deaths.
The state government has warned residents against consuming unverified, unlicensed or suspicious alcoholic and herbal preparations, particularly products whose ingredients, manufacturing processes or sources cannot be established.
Ajaka also appealed to community leaders and residents to promptly report unusual illnesses, clusters of sudden deaths or other unexplained health incidents to health authorities to enable rapid intervention.
He urged anyone who develops blurred vision, difficulty breathing, confusion or other unusual symptoms after consuming alcohol to seek emergency medical attention immediately rather than waiting for the symptoms to worsen.
Authorities are continuing to monitor the affected communities and hospitalise those requiring treatment, while laboratory investigations are expected to provide further information on the substance involved and help guide the government’s response.
