At least 24 individuals have died in two communities in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State after consuming a natural liquid substance.
The deaths, recorded in Odigbo city and Araromi-Obu, have sparked rigidity and mourning within the communities, with a number of different residents who consumed the substance mentioned to be receiving remedy in numerous hospitals.
THISDAY gathered on Wednesday that the incident, which occurred on Saturday, turned a significant concern after a number of the affected individuals allegedly turned unconscious and subsequently died at completely different places.
A supply within the space mentioned eight individuals had died in Araromi-Obu, whereas 16 others reportedly misplaced their lives in Odigbo city: “They drank the herbal substance and started dying. Eight people died in Araromi-Obu while 16 lost their lives in Odigbo town,” the supply mentioned.
“Some of the people died in their sleep, while some died when they got home. Many are still in the hospital as I am talking to you. However, we are yet to confirm if what they drank actually caused the deaths.”
Confirming the dying toll, the Chairman of Odigbo Local Government, Mr Taiwo Adegoroye, mentioned the victims had consumed the substance earlier than the incident, however burdened that the precise reason for dying had but to be established.
“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. 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 mentioned.
Adegoroye mentioned the native authorities had, as a precautionary measure, positioned a ban on the sale and consumption of regionally brewed alcoholic drinks within the affected space pending the result of investigations.
He added {that a} preliminary verbal post-mortem performed by the native authorities well being staff had indicated a doable hyperlink between the deaths and consumption of the substances, though additional medical examinations had been required to determine the details.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, additionally confirmed the incident, saying the federal government had commenced investigations to find out what led to the deaths.
Ajaka, who didn’t establish the particular substance suspected to be concerned, mentioned medical and well being officers would perform additional assessments within the affected communities.
“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 mentioned.
The improvement additionally triggered a mini protest by some youths in Odigbo, who marched to the palace of the normal ruler to demand explanations and pressing intervention to forestall additional deaths.
Addressing the youths, the monarch, Oba Rufus Akinrinmade, appealed for calm, assuring them that efforts had been being made to determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths and discover a lasting answer.
(*24*), the Ondo State Police Command has commenced a complete investigation into the deaths.
In an announcement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, Abayomi Jimoh, the Command mentioned its personnel, together with officers from Police Medical Services, had been working with the state Ministry of Health and Odigbo Local Government well being authorities to gather related info and proof.
The police mentioned medical and toxicological examinations had been additionally being performed to find out whether or not any substance was answerable for the fatalities.
The Command cautioned the general public in opposition to spreading unverified info or prematurely attributing the deaths to any explicit substance, stressing that laboratory analyses and investigations had been nonetheless ongoing.
“The actual number of casualties and the precise cause of the deaths will be established through the ongoing investigation,” the police mentioned.
The Command additionally suggested residents of the affected communities to stay calm and cooperate with investigators by offering helpful info, whereas urging members of the general public to chorus from consuming unregulated or suspicious alcoholic and natural preparations pending the result of the investigation.
The Commissioner of Police, Ondo State Command, Felix Ohagwu, assured the general public that the police would unravel the circumstances surrounding the deaths and take applicable motion in opposition to anybody discovered culpable.
Fidelis David
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