Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, 2nd right, during his visit to health facilities in Araromi-Obu
At least 30.people have been feared dead and 50 others hospitalised following their alleged consumption of some concoction mixed with the locally-produced alcoholic drink popularly called ogogoro, in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State.
Among the communities hit by the disaster are Araromi Obu, Odigbo Town, Newtown and Orita.
Already, traditional local, the state government, and police authorities have launched investigations to ascertain the cause of the sudden deaths which caught them unawares, and prevent a recurrence.
Meanwhile, the Ajobu of Araromi-Obu, Oba Aderemi Adelola, has commended the health authorities for their quick response to the disaster, while the Odigbo council has banned the sale of ogogoro, in the council.
Confirming the strange deaths, the state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, ruled out viral and bacterial infections, though he said the exact cause of the deaths had not been established
However, the commissioner who spoke shortly after a visit to health facilities in Araromi-Obu, said that the investigation team gathered that the victims might have consumed alcohol mixed with an unidentified substance or concoction shortly before they became ill.
According to The Hope, Ajaka, while speaking during an assessment visit to the affected area, stressed that the suspected substance had not yet been scientifically confirmed as the cause of the deaths.
“We have not confirmed the source
of death,” he said, adding that investigations were still ongoing.
He explained that health officials had collected samples of the suspected substance for laboratory analysis, noting that blood and urine samples were also being obtained from patients currently receiving treatment in hospitals to determine whether they contained toxic substances or other indicators that could explain the deaths.
Post-mortem examinations are also expected to be conducted on some of the deceased to establish the medical cause of death, according to him.
He explained that investigations were being conducted in the affected communities and hospitals as part of efforts to establish the facts surrounding the incident, stating that the precise number of deaths remained unclear at the moment.
He cautioned that the figures had not yet been conclusively verified.
“I can’t say precisely,” Ajaka said, when asked about the number of deaths, explaining that the authorities were still collating information from the affected communities and health facilities.
A final figure, according to the commissioner, would only be released after the government completes its verification and collation exercise.
Amid the investigation, he issued a warning to residents across the state against consuming unregulated alcoholic mixtures and other concoctions.
He also appealed to residents to avoid drinking substances whose contents and safety could not be established, warning that some of such mixtures could be potentially fatal.
The warning, he stressed, was not limited to residents of Odigbo Local Government area, as similar risks could exist in other parts of the state.
The commissioner noted that the government had also reportedly ordered that anyone found producing or distributing the suspected harmful substances would face prosecution, stating that those involved in such activities would be held responsible for potentially causing deaths.
Ajaka said the government relied on laboratory analysis of the collected samples, medical tests on surviving patients and post-mortem examinations of the deceased to determine what caused the deaths.
He urged the public to await the outcome of the investigation before drawing conclusions about the cause of the incident.
The preliminary assessment, he said, was ongoing, adding that a confirmed report would be released after the relevant agencies had completed their investigations and collated information from the affected areas.
He advised residents to exercise caution and avoid consuming alcoholic mixtures or unidentified concoctions that could pose a danger to their health.
The Chairman of Odigbo Local Government, Mr. Taiwo Adegoroye, explained that the authorities raised the alarm after noticing an unusual pattern of deaths.
He disclosed that he contacted the state Governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on Saturday, following reports of incessant deaths, and that a medical team was subsequently deployed to the area on Sunday.
According to him, the team began work immediately, with officials operating in the affected communities and engaging residents as part of efforts to understand the circumstances surrounding the incident.
He commended the state government for what he described as a prompt response, saying the intervention was necessary to prevent the situation from deteriorating.
The chairman said the administration’s priority was to protect living residents rather than wait until more people died.
As part of immediate preventive measures, he explained that he had ordered a halt to the sale of locally produced alcohol in the affected area pending the outcome of investigations.
The chairman said security agencies had been directed to enforce the order and that some people suspected of selling the product had been arrested, noting that investigators were now tracing the source of the suspected alcoholic drink and attempting to establish whether its consumption was connected with the deaths.
He revealed that hotels and other establishments where the drink was reportedly sold had also been warned to suspend its sale.
He noted that laboratory analysis, toxicological examination and autopsy findings were expected to determine the actual cause, stating that three bodies had been taken to the General Hospital for autopsy.
The local government chairman said families of the deceased had been instructed not to bury the bodies until the relevant examinations were completed, adding that the council had also approached the court to seek a coroner’s inquest into the deaths.
He hinted that the local government had released N2 million to support the immediate medical response, adding that additional financial assistance had also been requested as the emergency was not anticipated in the council’s budget.
He urged residents to avoid the suspected alcoholic product while investigations continued.
Welcoming the team, the Ajobu of Araromi-Obu, Oba Aderemi Adelola, commended the team for its quick response, noting that measures were already in place to stop the incident.
He said, “We have stopped the sale of concoctions and alcoholic drinks in the community.”
The monarch called on the government to give the General Hospital, Araromi-Obu, a facelift through the provision of an ambulance, morgue, personnel and a blood bank.
He assured the government of the community’s support for its facilities, stating that the community was renovating the staff quarters of the hospital to improve the quality of service delivery at the facility.
The team visited health facilities, including the General Hospital, Araromi-Obu, and the Comprehensive Health Centre in the community, where many patients were receiving treatment from health officials.
Meanwhile, the Ondo State Police Command commenced an investigation into the reported deaths in parts of Odigbo Local Government area of the state.
The command, in a statement issued on Wednesday by Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, said it was working with the Ondo State Government and relevant health authorities to determine the actual cause of the reported deaths.
According to the statement, police personnel, including officers from the Police Medical Services, are collaborating with officials of the state Ministry of Health and Odigbo Local Government health authorities to collect relevant information and evidence.
It added that medical and toxicological examinations were being conducted to determine whether any substance was responsible for the fatalities.
The police cautioned members of the public against spreading unverified information or attributing the deaths to any particular substance while investigations and laboratory analyses continue.
The command said the actual number of casualties and precise cause of the deaths would be established through the ongoing investigation.
It urged residents of the affected communities to remain calm and cooperate with the authorities by providing information that could assist the investigation.
The police also advised members of the public to refrain from consuming unregulated or suspicious alcoholic and herbal preparations pending the outcome of the investigation.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Felix Ohagwu, assured residents that the command was committed to unraveling the circumstances surrounding the reported deaths and would take appropriate action against anyone found culpable.
The command said it would continue to liaise with the state government and other relevant agencies and provide further updates as credible findings emerge.
