The Ondo State Government has commenced an investigation into the deaths of more than 24 people in Odigbo Local Government Area following suspected poisoning linked to the consumption of locally brewed alcoholic drinks.
The incident, which occurred over the weekend in Odigbo and Araromi-Obu communities, has left residents grieving, with several other people reportedly hospitalised and receiving medical attention.
Most of those affected were youths, while medical personnel are currently working to stabilise victims undergoing treatment in various hospitals.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview with NAN, saying the government had commenced an urgent investigation to establish what caused the deaths.
“We’re right now in the field with officials of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, World Health Organisation, WHO and other relevant agencies.
“We want to conduct a thorough investigation to know the cause. From our preliminary report, it is possibly an ingestion of alcoholic substance.
“I cannot give the exact figure of the deaths now. Some of the deaths were buried immediately. Some are in the mortuary, while some of the victims are still on admission in hospitals.
“The incident affected Odigbo and Araromi-Obu communities,” the commissioner said.
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Ajaka urged the public to avoid spreading unverified information about the incident, stressing that investigations were still ongoing.
He said it would be premature to identify a particular substance as responsible for the deaths until laboratory tests and medical investigations had been completed.