Panic and grief have enveloped the Odigbo Local Council Area of Ondo State following the sudden deaths of at least 24 people, predominantly youths, after allegedly consuming locally brewed herbal drinks and sachet concoctions.
The tragic incident, which unfolded across the Odigbo and Araromi-Obu communities, has triggered immediate emergency measures from state and local authorities. Victims reportedly began showing severe signs of distress shortly after consuming the unregulated substances, with many succumbing before they could receive medical help. Several other affected individuals are currently battling for their lives in area hospitals.
Reacting to the devastating outbreak, the Chairman of Odigbo Local Government Area, Taiwo Adegoroye, announced an immediate ban on the sale and consumption of locally produced alcoholic beverages and sachet herbal mixtures hawked across the communities.
Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Ajaka, who confirmed the casualty figures, stated that health officials and medical teams have been deployed to the area to conduct a verbal autopsy and unravel the exact toxic agent responsible for the mass deaths.
“The government is taking the matter seriously and we will provide more details after the ongoing investigation has established the circumstances surrounding the incident,” Ajaka noted.
Frustrated youths in the area staged a peaceful protest to the traditional ruler’s palace, demanding urgent answers and stricter regulations on locally peddled drinks. As medical personnel scramble to stabilize surviving victims, the tragedy has reignited intense national concerns regarding the regulation, safety, and monitoring of unregulated herbal mixtures and local brews across the country.
