Two more die in Ondo from consumption of toxic alcohol, bringing death toll to 32
Ondo State
By Adetokunbo Abiola
Two more persons on Thursday evening died at Araromi Obu in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State from the consumption of toxic alcoholic content, bringing the number of deaths to thirty-two.
On Wednesday, the state government announced thirty deaths from the consumption of a toxic alcoholic content at Odigbo and Araromu Obu, but another set of persons died at Araromi Obu town when the larger number of victims were recorded.
Over 50 people who consumed the toxic substance are currently on admission in different hospitals in Araromi Obu town, where more people were affected by the substance.
The Orunja of Odigbo, 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.
Meanwhile, following a directive issued by the Chairman of Odigbo Local Government, Akoni (Hon.) Taiwo Adegoroye, banning the sale and consumption of locally made alcohol in the local government, environmental enforcement officers have raided parts of Ore community and seized different types of banned local alcoholic substances.
The raid, which was conducted on Thursday at markets, motor parks, followed investigations linking the deaths of over 30 people in the area to the consumption of local alcohol and other substances.
During the deposition of the seized substances at the Odigbo Local Government Secretariat, the Head of the Environmental Enforcement Department, San Akinbiola, disclosed that the officers recovered different types of locally made alcoholic drinks despite the ban imposed by the local government.
Addressing the environmental officers, the Chairman, Adegoroye expressed concern over the increasing number of deaths allegedly linked to the consumption of local alcohol and other substances.
“It is pathetic and painful to have lost over 30 people to certain substance intake. The ban on these local and unregistered alcohol is to prevent more deaths and investigate the root cause,” he said.
