By Henryrich Ojo | Newsworld

At least 24 residents of Araromi Obu and Odigbo communities in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State have died following the consumption of a herbal liquid substance.

The incident, reportedly recorded on Saturday, has thrown the affected communities into mourning, with several other residents said to have been hospitalised.

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The Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Banji Ajaka, confirmed the deaths and said the state government had commenced investigations to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Ajaka said medical and health officials would visit the affected communities to conduct further assessments and establish the actual cause of the deaths.

“The government is taking the matter seriously and we will provide more details after the ongoing investigation has established the circumstances surrounding the incident,” the commissioner said.

Eight Die in Araromi Obu, 16 in Odigbo

A source in the affected area told Punch that the deceased had consumed the herbal substance at different locations before some of them reportedly became unconscious and later died.

According to the source, eight people died in Araromi Obu while 16 others died in Odigbo town.

The source, however, stressed that authorities had yet to conclusively establish whether the substance was responsible for the deaths.

“They drank the herbal substance and started dying. Eight people died in Araromi Obu while 16 lost their lives in Odigbo town, but we are yet to confirm if it is what they drank that killed them,” the source said.

The source added that some of the victims reportedly died while asleep, while others died after returning home.

Several other people were said to be receiving medical treatment following the incident.

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The Chairman of Odigbo Local Government, Taiwo Adegoroye, also confirmed that the affected residents had consumed the substance before the deaths occurred.

He said authorities were awaiting the arrival of a medical team to conduct autopsies that would help determine the actual cause of death.

As a precautionary measure, the local government has imposed a temporary ban on the sale and consumption of locally brewed alcoholic drinks in the affected area.

Adegoroye said the decision was taken pending the outcome of medical investigations.

According to the chairman, a preliminary verbal autopsy conducted by the local government health team indicated a possible link between the reported deaths and consumption of the substances.

However, he stressed the need for proper medical examinations and autopsies before a definitive conclusion could be reached.

Government Begins Investigation

The state government is expected to intensify investigations into the incident as health officials assess the affected communities.

Authorities are also expected to determine the nature and composition of the herbal substance consumed by the victims and establish whether contamination, toxic ingredients, alcohol or another factor was responsible for the deaths.

The government has urged residents to remain cautious while investigations continue.

Until the medical investigations and autopsies are completed, authorities have not conclusively established that the herbal substance caused the deaths.