Authorities in Nigeria's Ondo State have launched an investigation after 24 people died and several others were hospitalised following the consumption of a locally produced herbal drink in communities in the country's southwest.
The incident occurred in Araromi Obu and Odigbo, two towns in Ondo State, where residents reportedly fell seriously ill after drinking a herbal mixture believed to have been sold at different locations over the weekend.
According to local officials, many of the victims lost consciousness shortly after consuming the beverage. Some reportedly died before receiving medical treatment, while others passed away after returning home.
The chairman of Odigbo Local Government, Taiwo Adegoroye, confirmed that authorities had recorded 24 deaths linked to the incident.
Of the fatalities, eight occurred in Araromi Obu and 16 in Odigbo town. Several other people remain in hospital receiving treatment.
However, officials stressed that the exact cause of the deaths has not yet been established.
Health authorities are awaiting the results of laboratory tests and autopsies to determine whether the fatalities were caused by poisoning, contamination or another factor.
“We can confirm the death of 24 people, but we are yet to ascertain the cause,” Adegoroye said, noting that health experts from the Ondo State Ministry of Health had been deployed to investigate.
In response to the deaths, local authorities have temporarily banned the sale and consumption of locally produced alcoholic and herbal beverages in the affected communities.
Officials said the measure was designed to prevent further illnesses while investigators work to identify the source of the suspected contamination.
Preliminary assessments conducted by local health teams suggested there could be a connection between the substances consumed by the victims and the deaths, although authorities cautioned that no final conclusions had been reached.
The Ondo State government has described the situation as a public health emergency and said it is treating the matter with urgency.
Ondo State Police Commissioner Felix Ohagwu said law enforcement agencies were working alongside health officials and state authorities to determine exactly what happened.
Investigators are examining samples of the beverage and gathering information from survivors, witnesses and vendors.
Meanwhile, medical teams continue to monitor patients receiving treatment at hospitals across the area.
The state Ministry of Health said it would release further information once testing and forensic examinations are completed.
The deaths have sparked concern and frustration among residents.
Groups of young people in Odigbo staged peaceful demonstrations, calling on authorities to quickly identify the cause of the tragedy and strengthen public safety measures.
Some protesters marched to the palace of the town's traditional ruler, demanding greater protection for residents and tighter oversight of products sold within the community.
The monarch, Oba Rufus Akinrinmade, appealed for calm and assured residents that authorities were working to uncover the cause of the incident.
Cases involving suspected poisoning from unregulated herbal mixtures and locally brewed alcoholic drinks have periodically been reported in parts of Nigeria.
Health experts have repeatedly warned consumers about the dangers of consuming products that have not undergone safety testing or regulatory approval.
While herbal remedies remain widely used across the country, medical professionals caution that some products may contain harmful substances, toxic alcohol levels or undisclosed ingredients.
Authorities are expected to release laboratory findings in the coming days, which could provide crucial answers about what caused one of the deadliest suspected poisoning incidents in the region in recent years.
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