Government Bans Local Brews

In a swift response to the outbreak, the Ondo State Government has banned the sale and consumption of all locally produced alcoholic drinks and unverified herbal concoctions in the affected communities. Security agencies have been deployed to enforce the order, resulting in the immediate arrest of several local vendors and the temporary closure of commercial outlets linked to the distribution of the toxic brew.

Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Ajaka, disclosed during an assessment tour of health facilities in Araromi-Obu that preliminary investigations have successfully ruled out viral or bacterial infections.

"Reports indicate that some of the victims consumed alcohol mixed with an unidentified, lethal substance," Dr. Ajaka stated. "While investigations are ongoing, we have collected samples of the suspected concoctions, alongside blood and urine samples from surviving patients, for urgent laboratory and toxicological analysis."

To officially establish the clinical cause of death, the state health ministry is conducting post-mortem examinations on the deceased. The government has warned that the current casualty toll remains provisional as medical teams continue to collate data from various rural health centres.

Local Authorities Demand Coroner`s Inquest

The Chairman of Odigbo Local Government Area, Hon. Taiwo Adegoroye, revealed that the council triggered the alarm after noticing an unprecedented, rapid spike in mortality rates across the four communities.

"We have deposited three bodies at the General Hospital for autopsy and have explicitly directed the bereaved families to halt any burial proceedings until clinical examinations are concluded," Adegoroye said. He added that the local government has already approached the court to initiate a formal coroner’s inquest into the sudden deaths.

Reacting to the tragedy, the Ajobu of Araromi-Obu, HRM Oba Aderemi Adelola, commended the swift deployment of medical personnel but urged the state government to urgently upgrade the Araromi-Obu General Hospital by providing a functional morgue, an ambulance, a blood bank, and additional clinical staff.

Police Launch Criminal Investigation

The Ondo State Police Command has launched a full-scale criminal investigation into the source of the lethal mixture. In an official statement, the Command’s Spokesperson, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, confirmed that police detectives are working hand-in-hand with medical experts to track down illegal distillers.

The police warned that anyone found manufacturing, distributing, or selling unregulated, dangerous chemical mixtures under the guise of local gin or herbal remedies will face immediate prosecution. Residents have been urged to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified rumors, and promptly report suspicious local brewing setups to the nearest security formation.