The Ondo State Government, on Wednesday, confirmed the deaths of 24 residents of Odigbo Local Government Area of the state following the consumption of a herbal liquid substance.
No fewer than 24 residents of two communities in the council area, Araromi Obu and Odigbo town, reportedly lost their lives after consuming the substance.
The incident, which was said to have occurred on Saturday, has thrown the affected communities into mourning.
A source in the area who pleaded anonymity told our correspondent that the deceased consumed the substance at different locations on Saturday but later became unconscious, leading to their deaths. At the same time, some others who also consumed it were rushed to hospitals.
The source said, “They (the deceased) drank the herbal substance and started dying. Eight people died in Araromi Obu while 16 others lost their lives in Odigbo town, but we have yet to confirm if it was what they drank that killed them. But we are sure that the people died after drinking the herbal drinks.
“Some of the people died in their sleep while some died when they got home, and many are still in the hospital as I am talking to you.”
Confirming the incident in a telephone interview with our correspondent, the Chairman of Odigbo Local Government Area, Mr Taiwo Adegoroye, said the deceased consumed the substance before the incident, adding that they were waiting for a medical team to carry out an autopsy to determine the actual cause of the deaths.
