The death toll from suspected poisoning linked to locally produced alcoholic and herbal drinks, popularly known as “Monkey Tail,” in Ondo State has risen to 49, with about 170 persons now reported to have been affected.
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Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, disclosed the latest figures on Wednesday night, saying health authorities had intensified surveillance and treatment efforts as suspected cases spread beyond Odigbo Local Government Area to Irele.
According to Ajaka, eight deaths have been recorded in Irele LGA, prompting the deployment of health teams to affected communities to identify cases, treat patients and trace the source of the suspected toxic substance.
“So, all the people that have been affected altogether now is about 170, those that have been admitted and those that have died,” the commissioner said.
He added that the government had yet to determine whether all the cases originated from a single source or whether several contaminated products were involved.
The state is working with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, the State Security Service, the Nigeria Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps as investigations continue.
Ajaka said the outbreak had also been discussed at a national meeting involving state health commissioners and officials of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, stressing that investigations would continue until the source of the suspected poisoning was established.
The latest development follows earlier deaths in Odigbo LGA, where communities including New Town, Odole, Okele, Orita Odigbo, Araromi-Obu and Oniparaga were affected.
The Ondo State Government had consequently banned the production and sale of locally brewed alcoholic and alcoholic-herbal drinks in Odigbo as a precautionary measure.
Police have also arrested Oloruntoba Babatunde, popularly known as “Meko,” over alleged involvement in the production of substances suspected to contain methanol.
Police spokesperson Jimoh Abayomi said the suspect was assisting investigators, while 14 other persons were arrested for allegedly violating the government’s ban on the sale of herbal products. The allegations against those arrested have not been proven in court.
The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Idowu Ajanaku, had earlier said preliminary findings indicated that the substance linked to the deaths was not a contaminated commercial beverage but locally produced gin allegedly manufactured around Odigbo.
“It is not a contaminated beverage. It is a local gin being manufactured somewhere around Odigbo Local Government Area,” Ajanaku said.
The deaths have also triggered anxiety in affected communities, where residents have combined medical intervention with prayers and traditional spiritual measures.
In Araromi-Obu, Pastor Segun Ajiboye led residents in prayers for those receiving treatment and for an end to the deaths.
The traditional ruler of Odigbo Kingdom, Rufus Akinrimade, also confirmed that the palace had commenced prayers and what he described as spiritual cleansing, while warning residents not to ignore the health risks associated with unregulated alcoholic substances.
“Yes, we are embarking on spiritual cleansing and prayers, but I think mainly it is caused by carelessness and a lackadaisical attitude,” the monarch said.
He urged residents, particularly young people, to avoid alcoholic and herbal preparations whose contents and production processes are unknown.
Ajaka said surveillance and investigations would remain in place across the affected communities to prevent further deaths and stop the outbreak from spreading to other parts of Ondo State.
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