24 Feared Dead, Others Hospitalised As Suspected Food Poisoning Hits Ondo

At least 24 people have reportedly died while several others were hospitalised following suspected food poisoning in Araromi Obu and Odigbo communities in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The incident, which occurred last weekend, has sparked outrage among residents, with youths taking to the streets to protest the deaths and demand urgent intervention from authorities.

Eight deaths were reportedly recorded in Araromi Obu, while 16 others were recorded in Odigbo town.

The fatalities were initially suspected to be linked to the consumption of poisonous substances contained in sachet herbal concoctions. Some of the victims reportedly died at home, while others passed away in their sleep.

The protesting youths later marched to the palace of the traditional ruler of Araromi Obu, Oba Rufus Akinrinmade, where they called for immediate measures to prevent further deaths.

Addressing the protesters, the monarch appealed for calm and assured them that efforts would be made to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths and find a lasting solution.

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However, the Permanent Secretary of the Ondo State Ministry of Health, Dr Ayodele Adiji, said preliminary findings pointed to a possible connection between the deaths and the consumption of locally brewed alcoholic beverages, including herbal and ethanol-based drinks.

He said laboratory analysis of samples collected from the affected communities was still ongoing to establish the actual cause of the deaths.

As a precautionary measure, the Chairman of Odigbo Local Government, Hon. Taiwo Adegoroye, imposed a one-month ban on the sale and consumption of locally brewed herbal drinks in the area.

Adegoroye said a preliminary verbal autopsy conducted by the council’s health team suggested a possible link between the deaths and the substances consumed.

He warned that anyone caught selling or distributing the banned drinks during the restriction period would be arrested and prosecuted.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, also confirmed that investigations were ongoing, stressing that the government was taking the situation seriously.

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Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Jimoh Abayomi, said the command had commenced a comprehensive investigation in collaboration with the state government and relevant health authorities.

Abayomi said police medical personnel were working with health officials to collect evidence, while medical and toxicological examinations were being conducted to determine whether any particular substance was responsible for the fatalities.

He urged residents to avoid spreading unverified information or attributing the deaths to any particular substance before the conclusion of laboratory analyses.

Vanguard reports that the police spokesman also advised residents of the affected communities to remain calm, cooperate with investigators and avoid consuming unregulated or suspicious alcoholic and herbal preparations pending the outcome of the investigation.

He assured that the command would continue working with relevant authorities to unravel the circumstances surrounding the deaths and take appropriate action against anyone found culpable.

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