A survivor claimed he would never drink again if God saves him as the death toll from suspected consumption of contaminated herbal drinks in areas of Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State continued to rise.
Meanwhile, the male salesman of the poisonous drink has reportedly been apprehended.
Saturday Vanguard reported that Odigbo town, Newtown, Orita and Araromi-Obu suffered fatalities, sending the affected communities into grief.
More than 30 folks have died and more than 50 others are hospitalised after consuming the hazardous drink.
Chairman of Odigbo Local Government, Adegoroye Taiwo said, “A suspect, who is alleged to have sold the herbal drink, has been arrested and handed over to the police in Akure.
He said further work was underway to establish where the material came from.
Medical specialists and toxicologists’ preliminary results showed that the deaths were linked to the intake of tainted locally made alcoholic drinks, Adegoroye stated.
He said when he alerted Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the state government sent a medical team from Akure.
He said the team included representatives of NAFDAC and the World Health Organization.
The Council outlawed the sale and drinking of locally produced alcohol and ordered security authorities to apprehend and prosecute offenders.
“Those people who died, they drank toxic alcohol. “People call it Jeji, Ere, we call it different names,” he said.
“The results of the toxicologists showed that the prime suspects were those drinks that are not approved by NAFDAC like ogogoro and ethanol,” the chairman said.
preliminary he said there had been around 27 deaths and 30 hospitalisations according to preliminary reports but the medical team will give definitive data.
Survivor shares her story
Meanwhile relating his trauma, a 32-year-old survivor, Shola Adebayo said he lost his sight after drinking a locally manufactured drink called as “Monkey Tail”.
Adebayo said a friend got him the drink from Ore, and he drank two shots. The next day he could no longer see right.
I took Monkey Tail. Saturday I realised that I was not seeing very well and so I contacted my sister and I was rushed to the hospital. I’m doing better but praying for my eyes.
“If God saves me, I swear I will never drink again. “I won’t take even beer,” the survivor pleaded.
Adebayo Adetayo Adedeji, a relative of several of the victims, claimed the community lost three young men, including his cousin and two buddies. He named them as Leo, Bidemi and Matthew.
“The death of Bidemi was particularly painful because the young man was not known to be suffering from any illness before he suddenly complained of dizziness and died.
Adedeji said he supported the LG’s ban. “If they had not banned the drinking or selling of alcohol in the local government, Odigbo would have been a death depot by now.
The traditional ruler of Odigbo Kingdom, Oba Dr. Rufus Akinrimade, has refuted suggestions that the deaths were connected to a cultural taboo.
“At the end of the day, we discovered that it was because of taking different alcoholic substances, locally made alcohol. “I think the deaths resulted from drinking alcohol,” the monarch stated.
Oba Akinrimade advised the citizens, particularly the adolescents, to be mindful of what they ingest and the source of drugs that enter their bodies.
Health authorities say they are continuing to investigate.
About the Author
