The Ondo State Police Command has apprehended a suspect said to be involved in the manufacturing of substances suspected to contain methanol that have led to the unexpected death of about 30 inhabitants of Araromi-Obu and some other towns in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state.
This was contained in an official statement made available to journalists yesterday evening by the Public Relations Officer of Ondo State Police Command, DSP Abayomi Jimoh.
Jimoh said that the suspect was cooperating with the police in their investigations. He also said that substances suspected to be methanol were also recovered and have been subjected to further investigation and necessary forensic examination to establish their exact composition and determine any possible link to the reported deaths.
“The bodies of the dead are being subjected to medical and forensic procedures. The result is expected to provide further medical evidence on the actual cause of the deaths,” he said.
“Also, men of the state Criminal Investigation Department(CID) arrested 14 suspects including alleged sellers and consumers of the drinks and concoctions in different locations in the area,” he said.
The Police spokesperson added that following the development, the Commissioner of Police, Felix Ohagwu has accordingly ordered a continuous enforcement against the production, distribution and sale of unlicensed, adulterated or otherwise dangerous alcoholic beverages in the state.
The government of Ondo State on Friday acknowledged that the number of deaths from suspected ingestion of a contaminated alcoholic beverage in Araromi-Obu and adjoining towns in the Odigbo Local Government Area had grown to 29.
State commissioner for health, Banji Awolowo-Ajaka, said a total of 60 cases had been reported.
Of the 29 persons who died, three were in hospital on admission, while the other 27 were under medical observation.
He said 95 per cent of those infected were males between the ages of 16 and 55, adding that instances were mainly detected in the Orita Odigbo, Araromi-Obu, Newtown, Odole, Okele and Oniparaga communities.
According to the commissioner, symptoms presented by the victims include headache, bodily discomfort, overall body weakness, visual disturbance, difficulties breathing and changed awareness.
“Some of the patients died within hours, their condition deteriorating rapidly,” he continued.
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