The death toll of victims of toxic alcoholic substance in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State has risen to 32 by Thursday evening.
This pushes the fatality figure from the 30 announced on Wednesday by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka.
The latest figure was vonfirmed by some of the natives, who said that after the government announced that 30 people died on Wednesday, another set of people died overnight.
Apart from the dead, over 50 people who ingested the same toxic substance are currently on admission in different hospitals in Araromi Obu town where more people were affected by the substance.
Oba Rufus Akinrinmade on Thursday dismissed the rumour making the round that the mass death was caused by someone who committed a taboo by riding a horse in Odigbo town.
The monarch said it’s not a taboo to ride a horse in the community.
According to The Independent,a man, who lost his family member and friends as a result of the toxic substance, Prince Adebayo Adetayo Adedeji said: “I have my cousin with them, and I have friends as well. In the blessed memories of Leo. Bidemi and Mathew. I pray that the Lord grant them eternal rest.
”We lost them, the youths in the community. We are sober; we are not happy. But we cannot fight God. We have to accept. But the way death comes, we cannot see.
”Two of them are married. Only the quietest among them, Bidemi, is not married. We lost him, and it is painful. He is our admin in the New Town. We have a New Town community.
”He was not sick. He just felt that he was dizzy. Before we knew it, we lost him.
”We could not explain. That is why the youths came out to appeal to the authorities of the kingdom.
“We later knew the source. Because what people were thinking was that it was a taboo that came in. But later, we realised that it was a process by which the youths take certain things into their stomachs.
”If not for the help of the local government, if they had not banned the drinking or selling of alcohol in the local government, by now the Odigbo Local Government would have been a death depot. Because it would be happening every second, every house, every household.”
A survivor, who is on admission in a private hospital in Odigbo town, Shola Adebayo, disclosed that he drank locally made concoction, popularly known as Monkey Tail, and was later rushed to the hospital.
The 32-year-old had gone blind due to the substance which was said to have triggered underlining ailments.
Adebayo said: “I was brought to the hospital on Saturday. I took Monkey Tail. It’s been a while that I’ve been taking monkey tail, but I don’t take it always.
“On Friday, a friend brought Money Tail and asked that we drink together, I took two shorts and went home. On Saturday, I discovered I can’t see very well, so I called my sister and I was taken to the hospital for treatment.
“I’m getting better, but I’m praying for my eyes that I should regain my sight. The person that gave me the drink said he bought it from Ore. We are five that took the drinks and everybody went away. If God saved me, I swear I will never take any drinks again, even beer, I won’t take. God should please save me.”
In a statement on Thursday, the Ondo State Government warned the people of the state against the consumption of unapproved substances, herbal drinks, concoctions and other products not certified as safe for human consumption.
The statement signed by the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Idowu Ajanaku cautioned the people to desist from patronising or consuming substances of doubtful origin.
He said: “The safety, health and wellbeing of the people remain key priorities of the present administration.”
The state Government also “strongly cautions sellers, producers and distributors of uncertified substances to immediately desist from such practices, as the production, sale and distribution of unapproved substances pose serious risks to public health and may attract appropriate sanctions in accordance with the law.”
Meanwhile, the proactive intervention of the Chairman of Odigbo Local Government Area, Taiwo Adegboye, in responding promptly to the situation and supporting efforts aimed at protecting the lives and wellbeing of residents was commended by the state government.
The Government, therefore, assured the people of the state that necessary measures are being taken to safeguard public health and prevent a recurrence of such incidents.
Consequently, the state government urged the people “to promptly report suspicious activities involving the production, sale or distribution of dangerous, illegal or unapproved substances to the appropriate authorities
