Ondo Herbal Concoction Death Toll Rises To 49 King’s College Crisis

The death toll from the suspected toxic herbal concoction consumption in Ondo State has risen to 49, while about 170 people have been affected by the health crisis.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, disclosed this on Wednesday, saying the crisis had spread to Irele Local Government Area, where eight people were reported to have died.

Speaking with LEADERSHIP, Ajaka said, “As we are now, Irele (LG) is where we have a serious issue; our people were there, and many people have died. About eight people have been recorded as having died as of last night.

“So all the people that have been affected altogether now are about 170, those that have been admitted and those that have died,”

Ajaka said the state government had responded promptly to reports of the crisis, with medical and health teams deployed to affected communities to prevent further spread.

“We will always be fast about it wherever and whenever we hear the report of the issue, our teams are already in Ireland as I’m talking to you now,” he said.

The commissioner also attributed the health crisis to the victims’ consumption of ethanol.

The crisis initially affected Araromi-Obu and Odigbo communities in Odigbo Local Government Area, where 24 deaths were earlier reported. ‎ ‎Chairman of Odigbo Local Government, Taiwo Adegoroye, had disclosed that eight people died in Araromi-Obu while 16 others died in Odigbo. The figure later rose to 29, then to 49 as of Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Ondo State Police Command has arrested a suspected producer of the herbal liquid substance linked to the crisis. ‎ ‎The suspect, Oloruntoba Babatunde, a.k.a. “Meko,” was arrested alongside 14 others for allegedly violating the ban on the sale of herbal products.

‎The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, said Babatunde was suspected of involvement in the production of substances believed to contain methanol and was assisting the police with their investigations. ‎ ‎

He said an investigation had commenced into the circumstances surrounding the deaths, while the bodies of the deceased were undergoing necessary medical and forensic procedures. ‎

‎The PPRO said, “The Ondo State Police Command has contained the situation arising from reported cases of sudden and unnatural deaths involving youths in Araromi-Obu, Odigbo Local Government Area of the state, following sustained security, medical and investigative interventions. ‎

‎“The development follows the arrest of one Oloruntoba Babatunde, a.k.a ‘Meko,’ who is suspected to be involved in the production of substances suspected to contain methanol and is currently assisting the police with investigations.”