By ADEREMI BAMGBOSE

The death toll from suspected poisoning linked to the consumption of locally brewed alcoholic substances in two communities in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State has risen to 32.

The affected communities are Araromi-Obu and Odigbo, where several residents, mostly youths, fell ill after consuming substances suspected to be herbal alcoholic drinks.

Mr Taiwo Adegoroye, Chairman, Odigbo Local Government, in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday said that the number of deaths had increased to 32.

Adegoroye said that unconfirmed numbers of victims are still receiving treatment in several hospitals in Ore, Araromi-Obu and other private hospitals in the affected communities.

No fewer than 24 residents of the two communities had initially lost their lives after consuming the substance.

Adegoroye told NAN that the seller of the suspected herbal concoction had been arrested by the police for investigation.

The local government boss noted that the Police, Amotekun corps and other security agencies have started clamping down on all herbal concoction sellers in the council area.

Adegoroye also noted that although the exact cause of the deaths were yet to be ascertained, the state Ministry of Health and other relevant agencies are intensifying efforts to unravel the cause.

“It is now a taboo for anyone to sell or trade any herbal concoction either in plastic or sachet and other firms in Odigbo Local Government Area, and anyone caught will be arrested by security agencies.

“Public enlightenment has began across the local government as meetings have been held with traditional rulers, Iyalojas, and commercial motorists to desist from taking unregulated herbal concoction.

“We’re also engaging in public enlightenment campaign through radio jingles and social media to educate the public against the sale and intake of herbal concoction.

“The death toll of victims has risen to 32 but we cannot ascertain the number of victims now in several General Hospitals because anyone found with the symptoms by doctors are being taken to the hospitals for test and diagnosis.

“Several medical doctors, health practitioners, toxicologists from the state Ministry of Health, National Agency for Food, Drug Control and Administration (NAFDAC), Nigeria Centre for Disease and Control (NCDC), World Health Organisation (WHO) are on ground to do their investigations,” he said.

Adegoroye, however, commended residents, security agencies, health practioners and other relevant agencies for the swift response to the challenge.

He also thanked Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa for the prompt deployment of the state Ministry of Health, other relevant agencies and security agencies for series of investigation in order to unravel the cause of the incident. (NAN)