At least 24 people died and 50 others were hospitalised following a suspected poisoning incident in two communities in Nigeria’s southwestern Ondo state, local authorities have said.
The deaths were recorded in Araromi Obu and Odigbo towns in Odigbo Local Government Area after residents allegedly consumed a herbal liquid substance.
Taiwo Adegoroye, chairman of Odigbo Local Government, on Wednesday confirmed 24 deaths — eight in Araromi Obu and 16 in Odigbo. He added that 50 people had been hospitalised following the incident.
Adegoroye, however, said authorities had yet to establish whether the substance consumed by the victims caused the deaths, as medical examinations and tests were still being conducted.
“We can confirm the death of 24 people, eight in Araromi Obu and 16 in Odigbo town and many are still in hospitals,” he said in a statement shared with Anadolu.
The affected persons were said to have become unconscious after consuming the substance.
Ondo State Commissioner for Health Banji Ajaka said the state government launched an investigation to determine what caused it.
The local government has, meanwhile, banned the sale and consumption of locally brewed alcoholic drinks in the affected communities as a precautionary measure.
The development has caused concern in the affected communities, with youths staging a protest and visiting the palace of the Odigbo traditional ruler to demand urgent action.
The traditional ruler, Oba Rufus Akinrinmade, appealed for calm and assured residents that efforts were underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
