No fewer than 24 persons have reportedly died following a suspected poisoning incident in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, with several others said to be receiving treatment in hospitals.
The incident, which occurred over the weekend, has sparked concern across the affected communities, as authorities investigate the suspected consumption of a poisonous substance believed to be contained in sachet herbal concoctions.
The Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, confirmed the incident in an interview, saying investigations were underway to establish the actual cause of the deaths.
Ajaka, however, did not immediately disclose the specific substance suspected to have caused the deaths, as medical and health officials were expected to conduct further assessments in the affected communities.
The Commissioner said the government was taking the matter seriously and would provide more details after the ongoing investigation had established the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Chairman of Odigbo Local Government Area, Taiwo Adegoroye, also confirmed the incident, but said he could not provide further details until medical experts had visited the affected communities and professionally assessed the situation.
Adegoroye was said to have disclosed that the council had taken precautionary measures over the reported incident, including restrictions on the consumption and sale of sachet herbal concoctions and similar drinks being hawked in the affected areas.
The reported deaths occurred across Araromi-Obu, Orita New Town and Odigbo, while a number of other suspected victims were said to have been hospitalised.
The development has heightened concerns over the safety of unregulated herbal concoctions and other substances sold in sachets, particularly in communities where such products are widely consumed.
Authorities are expected to carry out medical examinations and laboratory analyses to determine the precise cause of the deaths and identify the substance responsible, if poisoning is confirmed.
Meanwhile, residents of the affected communities have been urged to exercise caution and avoid consuming suspicious herbal concoctions or unverified sachet products pending the outcome of the investigation.