At least 48 people have died in Ondo State after consuming a locally brewed alcoholic concoction suspected to have been contaminated with methanol.
About 100 others are receiving treatment following the incident, with cases reported in Odigbo and Irele Local Government Areas of the state.
Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Banji Ajaka, said 182 people were believed to have been affected by the suspected methanol poisoning.
Ajaka said the substance could cause severe and rapid damage to vital organs, including the kidneys, eyes and brain, depending on the quantity consumed.
“This thing happened rapidly. Once they consume, depending on the quantity, the kidneys will pack up, the eyes will go, the brain will be damaged,” he said.
One of the victims, 32-year-old Sola Adebayo, said he began experiencing vision problems a day after consuming the drink.
“I took like two shots and I went out on Friday. On Saturday, I noticed that I could not see,” Adebayo said from his hospital bed.
The incident has been linked by residents to a popular locally brewed alcoholic drink known as “Monkey Tail”, although the exact substance responsible for the deaths is still under investigation.
A trader in Odigbo who sells the drink said there were two versions of the concoction, describing one as the original version and another as unsafe. The trader spoke anonymously for fear of arrest.
Ondo State police spokesman, Abayomi Jimoh, said 15 people had been arrested in connection with the incident.
According to Jimoh, one of those arrested was allegedly involved in producing substances suspected to contain methanol and was assisting the police with their investigation.
Local media reports indicated that the first death linked to the incident was recorded nearly two weeks ago.
The incident has renewed concerns over the consumption and regulation of locally produced alcoholic drinks, particularly in rural communities where such products are often more affordable and readily available.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control is also enforcing a nationwide ban on alcoholic drinks packaged in sachets and small plastic containers, citing concerns over their accessibility to children and young people.
