Police say a third location, Orita New Town, is also affected, as residents in Araromi-Obu protest at the traditional ruler’s palace demanding answers.
At least 24 people have died in communities in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State after reportedly consuming a herbal liquid substance, with several others hospitalised and the exact cause of death yet to be officially confirmed.
The deaths occurred on Saturday, 5 September, across Odigbo town and Araromi-Obu, with police later confirming a third affected community, Orita New Town. Several residents who consumed the substance are said to be receiving treatment at various hospitals.
What local authorities have confirmed
Taiwo Adegoroye, Chairman of Odigbo Local Government Area, confirmed the death toll in a telephone interview, saying the local government was still awaiting laboratory results.
“We can confirm the death of 24 people, eight in Araromi-Obu and 16 in Odigbo town, and many are still on admission at hospitals,” he said.
“But we are yet to ascertain the cause of the death, and we are still waiting for the team from the state ministry of health to carry out the test on the deceased. That is why we can’t specifically say the real cause.”
Adegoroye said a preliminary verbal autopsy suggested a possible link between the deaths and the substance consumed, though he stressed that further medical examination was required to establish the facts.
As a precautionary measure, he said the local government had banned the sale and consumption of locally brewed alcoholic drinks in the affected area pending investigations.
Ondo State Commissioner for Health Banji Ajaka separately confirmed the incident, saying the government had commenced investigations to determine what led to the deaths, though he did not identify any specific substance suspected to be involved.
What a local source told reporters about the herbal substance
A resident in one of the affected communities told Leadership that the incident began after a woman who regularly sold liquor and herbal preparations brought a concoction to a spot in the community known as “Abe Igi.”
“A liquor trader brought and sold a herbal concoction to some of the residents in the town, who bought and drank the substance. Some hours later, some of them became unconscious and later died, while some were rushed to the hospital and are currently hospitalised,” the source said, adding that the woman reportedly disappeared from the community after the incident.
TDC could not independently verify this account, and no arrest or named suspect has been confirmed by police as of filing.
Police investigation and community reaction
Abayomi Jimoh, Police Public Relations Officer in Ondo, said in a statement that the command had commenced a comprehensive investigation into the deaths “suspected to be connected with possible poisoning,” with police personnel, including officers from Police Medical Services, working alongside the state Ministry of Health and Odigbo LGA health authorities to gather evidence.
“At this stage, the Command wishes to caution members of the public against spreading unverified information or attributing the deaths to any particular substance, as the investigation and laboratory analyses are still ongoing,” Jimoh said, adding that the actual number of casualties and precise cause of death would be established through the investigation.
“Members of the public are also urged to refrain from consuming unregulated or suspicious alcoholic and herbal preparations pending the outcome of the investigation,” he added.
He urged affected residents to remain calm and cooperate with investigators, and advised the wider public to avoid consuming unregulated or suspicious alcoholic and herbal preparations pending the outcome.
The deaths have triggered anger in the affected communities, with youths reportedly marching to the palace of the traditional ruler of Araromi-Obu, Oba Rufus Akinrinmade, to demand urgent action to prevent further loss of life.
