The death toll from the suspected herbal drink incident in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State has risen to 27, as the state government intensifies efforts to stop the sale of unapproved herbal drinks and other substances in the affected communities.
Residents of Araromi Obu and Odigbo town reportedly fell ill after consuming substances suspected to be herbal drinks, with 24 deaths initially recorded.
The Chairman of Odigbo Local Government Area, Taiwo Adegoroye, confirmed on Thursday that three additional deaths had been recorded, bringing the total to 27.
Adegoroye said eight people died in Araromi Obu, while 16 deaths were initially recorded in Odigbo town before the latest increase.
He said the situation had now subsided following the intervention of medical teams from the state and local governments.
“The number of deaths is now 27, but if not for the proactiveness of the medical teams from the state government and the local government, the death toll would have risen further. But we thank God that the situation has subsided.”
The council chairman also disclosed that a task force had begun enforcing the ban on the sale of herbal drinks in the affected areas.
According to him, officials visited parks, markets and streets to remove the products from circulation, with a number of suspected herbal drinks already seized.
“Today, the task force has moved around the parks, markets and streets to enforce the ban on the sale of herbal drinks. As I’m talking to you, a number of them have been seized.”
Environmental and health officials from the Ondo State Government have also been deployed to the communities to investigate the incident.
Despite the growing death toll, authorities have continued to stress that the actual cause of the deaths has not yet been established.
The Ondo State Government, through the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Idowu Ajanaku, warned residents against consuming herbal drinks, concoctions and other substances that have not been certified safe for human consumption.
The government urged residents to exercise “utmost caution” and avoid products whose origin and safety cannot be verified.
It also warned producers, sellers and distributors of uncertified substances to stop their activities, noting that the production, sale and distribution of unapproved products could pose serious public health risks and attract sanctions under the law.
Residents were further advised to obtain medicines and other consumable products only from authorised and regulated outlets, and to seek professional medical advice instead of relying on unverified remedies.
The government also warned against drug abuse and the unauthorised consumption of substances capable of causing serious health complications or death.
Meanwhile, investigations involving relevant health and environmental authorities are continuing to determine what caused the deaths and whether the substances consumed by the victims were responsible.
The government appealed for calm and urged residents not to circulate unverified information that could create unnecessary panic.
It also called on residents to report suspicious activities involving the production, sale or distribution of dangerous or unapproved substances to the appropriate authorities.
The latest development brings the reported death toll from the Odigbo incident to 27, while officials continue medical and environmental investigations into the circumstances surrounding the fatalities.
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