Against the backdrop of tragic deaths of at least 29 people in Odigbo Local Government area of Ondo State after taking toxic drinks mixed with suspected locally produced alcohol popularly called ogogoro, the National Orientation Agency, NOA, has warned residents against consumption of alcohol and hard drugs.
Specifically, it warned against the consumption of unregulated herbal drinks, alcoholic concoctions, illicit drugs and other harmful substances capable of endangering lives.
Many other victims were hospitalised, while investigations to unravel the real cause of the tragedy, and avert a repeat, are being conducted by officials of the state’s Ministry of Health.
Besides, security agencies whicj have arrested at least 15 suspects over the incident, are still searching for other suspects.
Similarly, the state government has warned residents to stay away from alcoholic and other drinks that may endanger their lives.
It also asked them to be alert and report suspicious movement to security agencies
The agency’s State Directo, Mrs Bola Oguntuase, gave the warning in a statement in Akure on Monday after the Directorate’s Management meeting, where the recent incident in Odigbo was extensively reviewed.
It was signed by the agency’s spokesman in the state, Mr Ralph Oguntibeju
According to the statement: “The Management expressed serious concern over the development and resolved to intensify public enlightenment across the State on the dangers associated with consuming substances whose ingredients, sources and safety standards cannot be verified.
Mrs Oguntuase described the incident as a grave public health concern and a painful reminder of the consequences of indiscriminate consumption of unregulated alcoholic and herbal substances. She cautioned residents against assuming that products are safe merely because they are described as herbal, traditional or locally produced, stressing that substances prepared or sold outside appropriate regulatory controls may contain dangerous ingredients capable of causing serious illness or death.
The State Director urged residents to exercise the highest degree of caution and refrain from consuming any alcoholic beverage, herbal concoction or other substance whose contents and safety status are unknown. She particularly warned against the consumption of locally prepared drinks popularly known as “Monkey Tail” and other similar concoctions, in view of the serious concerns raised following the Odigbo incident.
She said the Agency would not relent in its statutory responsibility of providing credible information and mobilising citizens towards responsible behaviour, noting that public orientation remains critical in preventing avoidable loss of lives. She called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, community leaders, parents, youth organisations and other stakeholders to reinforce the message of caution within their respective communities.
The NOA State Director also commended the Ondo State Government for its prompt intervention following the incident. The State Government activated relevant health and regulatory authorities, commenced investigations and facilitated the collection of samples for laboratory and toxicological analysis to establish the substance or substances responsible for the reported illnesses and deaths.
The State Government subsequently announced measures to restrict the production and sale of locally brewed alcoholic and alcoholic herbal beverages in the affected area and ordered stronger enforcement against unverified alcoholic drinks and dangerous substances across the State. The measures were aimed at preventing further exposure of residents to potentially harmful products while investigations continue.
According to the latest official update, 32 deaths had been confirmed from 102 suspected cases associated with the incident, although investigations were still ongoing to conclusively establish the cause. The NOA therefore urged members of the public not to circulate unverified information or attribute the deaths to any particular substance without confirmation from the competent authorities.
Mrs Oguntuase equally expressed grave concern over the increasing exposure of young people to hard drugs, illicit substances and other psychoactive substances, warning that substance abuse can destroy lives, undermine families and constitute a serious threat to the future of the society.
The State Director further called on residents to report suspected manufacturers, distributors and sellers of unregulated alcoholic drinks, herbal concoctions and illicit substances to the appropriate government Agencies and security authorities. She warned that members of the public should not patronise such products or encourage their circulation, as doing so could expose more people to avoidable danger.
She stressed that the responsibility for protecting lives goes beyond government agencies, noting that citizens themselves have a crucial role to play by making informed choices about what they consume and by refusing to support businesses that place human lives at risk.
The NOA State Directorate reaffirmed its readiness to collaborate with the Ondo State Government, Ministry of Health, relevant regulatory agencies, security organisations, traditional institutions, religious bodies, community-based organisations and other stakeholders in strengthening public sensitization on substance abuse, consumer safety and healthy living.
Mrs Oguntuase urged residents to take the Odigbo tragedy as a serious warning and a collective call to action, stressing that the preservation of human life must remain paramount in every decision concerning the production, sale and consumption of alcoholic, herbal and other psychoactive substances.”
