Tension has heightened in the Odigbo Local Council Area of Ondo State following the death of 24 persons, mostly youths, over the weekend from a suspected poisoning incident linked to the consumption of sachet concoctions and locally brewed alcoholic drinks.

The deaths, which occurred across Odigbo and Araromi-Obu communities, have prompted the local government to impose an immediate ban on the sale and consumption of locally produced alcoholic beverages, with health officials scrambling to determine the exact cause of the fatalities.

Several other victims are currently receiving treatment in hospitals, with medical personnel working to stabilize those affected by the suspected poisoning.

The Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Ajaka, confirmed the incident and disclosed that investigations were underway to establish the actual cause of the deaths.

The Commissioner, however, did not disclose the specific substance suspected to have caused the fatalities, stressing that medical and health officials were expected to conduct further assessments in the affected communities.

Ajaka said the government was taking the matter seriously and would provide more details after the ongoing investigation had established the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Ayodele Adeji, revealed that early findings pointed to potential methanol contamination.

He, however, stressed that laboratory analysis of samples collected by the medical team was still ongoing, adding that further investigations would be required to establish whether there was any direct connection between the consumption of the locally brewed drinks and the reported deaths.

Also, the Chairman of Odigbo Local Government, Taiwo Adegoroye, stated that preliminary

An investigation conducted by the local government health team indicated a possible link between the reported deaths and the consumption of the substances.

Adegoroye added that a one-month ban on the sale and consumption of locally brewed alcoholic drinks has been imposed in the area as a precautionary measure.

Adegoroye, in a statement, said the decision was intended to safeguard residents, warning that individuals found selling or distributing the locally produced banned alcoholic drinks during the period of the restriction could face arrest and prosecution in accordance with applicable laws.

The development has heightened anxiety and anger among residents, particularly youths, who took to the streets and proceeded to the palace of the Odigbo traditional ruler, Oba Rufus Akinrinmade, to demand explanations and urgent measures to prevent further loss of lives.

Addressing the protesters, Oba Akinrinmade appealed for calm and assured them that efforts would be made to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the deaths and find a lasting solution to the situation. (The Guardian, but headline rejigged)