Ondo Herbal Drink Tragedy: 48 Dead, 182 Critically Ill, Five Blinded — NAFDAC
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has confirmed that 48 people have died following the consumption of suspected locally prepared alcoholic and herbal concoctions in parts of Ondo State.
The agency also disclosed that 182 other affected persons were critically ill, while five reportedly became totally blind and two others suffered partial blindness.
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed the figures in a statement issued to journalists in Abuja on Friday evening.
According to Adeyeye, the incident affected several communities in Odigbo Local Government Area, including New Town, Odole, Okele, Orita Odigbo, Araromi-Obu and Oniparaga.
She explained that the incident was first reported in early September 2026 after several residents suddenly fell ill and died following consumption of the suspected herbal substance.
Adeyeye said initial field reports recorded 31 deaths, comprising 20 victims in Odigbo Town and 11 in Araromi-Obu, while several others were hospitalised or placed under medical observation.
She said further regulatory and public health investigations later increased the recorded figures to 48 deaths and 182 critically ill patients.
The NAFDAC boss added that 90 affected persons had been admitted and subsequently discharged, while six remained hospitalised and 31 were being treated as outpatients.
She further disclosed that five people had reportedly become totally blind, while two others were partially blind.
The clinical symptoms reported among those affected included headaches, general body weakness and pain, visual disturbances, difficulty breathing and altered consciousness, with some cases deteriorating rapidly.
Adeyeye also disclosed that 15 people had been arrested in connection with the suspected production, sale and distribution of the implicated locally produced alcoholic and herbal beverages.
She said NAFDAC had collected samples of the suspected concoction for laboratory examination and toxicological studies to determine its chemical composition and identify possible toxic substances, adulterants, contaminants or undeclared ingredients.
According to her, preliminary laboratory tests conducted on 15 unlabelled samples revealed significant toxic potential, with approximately 50 per cent mortality recorded in animal testing involving six of the samples.
Adeyeye said chemical screening detected Cannabis indica in 11 samples, while gas chromatography confirmed the presence of a high concentration of methanol.
She explained that methanol is highly toxic and can cause severe poisoning, including blindness, organ failure and death.
The NAFDAC director-general, however, stressed that further confirmatory analyses were still ongoing to determine the precise concentration of methanol and identify any other toxic agents that may have contributed to the tragedy.
She described the incident as a significant public health concern, given the number of deaths and people requiring medical attention.
Adeyeye said the figures, which were based on the situation as of September 17, 2026, remained subject to further verification as investigations and surveillance activities continued.
She commiserated with the families of those who died and prayed for the repose of the souls of the victims, as laboratory analyses and investigations continue.