The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a suspected producer of harmful alcoholic substances and 14 others following the deaths of 30 people in Araromi-Obu and Odigbo communities in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state.
The suspected producer, identified as Oloruntoba Babatunde, popularly known as “Meko”, was arrested after several youths reportedly fell critically ill and died following the consumption of suspected alcoholic and herbal concoctions.
The police said substances suspected to contain methanol were recovered from Babatunde and had been sent for forensic examination to determine their composition and whether they were connected to the reported deaths.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, Abayomi Jimoh, said the command had intensified investigations and security operations in the affected communities.
Health officials have also increased medical interventions, with several youths from Araromi-Obu taken to the Odigbo Local Government medical facility for assessment, testing and treatment.
The police added that the bodies of the deceased were undergoing medical and forensic procedures, while post-mortem examinations are expected to help determine the actual cause of death.
Fourteen other people, comprising suspected sellers and consumers, were also arrested during enforcement operations in Ore and Odigbo over the production, sale and consumption of dangerous alcoholic drinks and concoctions.
The operation was carried out on the directive of the state Commissioner of Police, Felix Ohagwu, with officers from the State Criminal Investigation Department, Akure, deployed to enforce relevant provisions of the law.
The case has since been transferred to the State CID for discreet and comprehensive investigation.
The police said detectives visited Araromi-Obu on September 12 to gather additional evidence and advance the investigation.
Investigators are examining the source, production, composition, distribution and consumption of the suspected substances, as well as their possible connection with the reported deaths.
The police urged residents to avoid locally produced, unlabelled or suspicious alcoholic drinks and herbal concoctions whose contents, source or safety cannot be verified.
The Ondo State Government had earlier banned the sale and distribution of unverified alcoholic drinks and other substances following the reported deaths.
Residents were also advised to report the production, sale or circulation of suspected harmful substances to the nearest police station.
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