No fewer than 48 persons have lost their lives while 182 others are critically ill following the consumption of toxic locally-prepared alcoholic and herbal drinks in Ondo State.
The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, confirmed the development in a statement released in Abuja on Friday evening.
Adeyeye said the tragedy was recorded across several communities in Odigbo Local Government Area, including New Town, Odole, Okele, Orita Odigbo, Araromi-Obu and Oniparaga.
According to her, the incident first surfaced in early September 2026 when residents who consumed the suspected concoction started falling sick and dying.
She explained that preliminary field reports indicated 31 deaths — 20 in Odigbo Town and 11 in Araromi-Obu — before the figure later escalated to 48 deaths with 182 persons critically ill.
A breakdown of the cases showed that 90 victims were admitted and discharged, six are still hospitalised, 31 were managed as outpatients, while five persons suffered total blindness and two others partial blindness.
Victims reportedly presented symptoms such as headache, general body weakness and pain, visual impairment, difficulty in breathing and altered consciousness, with some deteriorating rapidly.
Adeyeye disclosed that 15 persons have been arrested in connection with the production, sale and distribution of the suspected drinks, while samples have been taken for laboratory analysis.
She said the 15 unlabelled samples were subjected to toxicological, microbiological and chemical screening, including acute oral toxicity test on laboratory mice conducted in line with OECD guidelines.
The test result showed critically sick mice with about 50 per cent mortality recorded in six of the samples, indicating high toxic potential.
Further chemical analysis using gas chromatography revealed that 11 samples contained cannabis indica and high concentration of methanol, a substance known to cause blindness, organ failure and death when ingested.
The NAFDAC boss noted that the findings point to serious public health risk and require immediate regulatory intervention, adding that confirmatory testing is ongoing to determine methanol concentration and other possible toxic agents.
She added that as of September 17, 2026, casualty figures remain subject to verification as investigations continue, while condoling with families of the deceased.
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