ONDO CITY, NIGERIA — At least 48 people have died in Nigeria’s Ondo State following the consumption of toxic, locally produced alcoholic and herbal concoctions, according to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
By 17 September, there were a total of 182 cases of food and drug poisonings in the area. The laboratory test done on 15 beverages revealed extremely high levels of poisonous methanol, and 11 of the samples contained cannabis.
Health officials reported that victims experienced severe symptoms, including headaches, general body pain, and severe blurred vision. Adeshina Doris, Disease Surveillance and Notification Officer for Odigbo Local Government, confirmed that the visual impairment frequently progressed to irreversible blindness. NAFDAC reported that five victims have been left completely blind and two partially blind.
Videos captured from hospitals and the streets of Ondo City show the continued emergency response. Of the victims, 90 have been admitted to hospitals and then released; six are still in the hospitals, while 31 were given outpatient services.
One of the survivors reported losing consciousness right after he had intense hiccups, and one of the victims’ spouses recounted her husband acting erratically due to dangerously high blood pressure levels.
Authorities have made 15 arrests related to the manufacture and illegal distribution of the tainted drinks.
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