Ondo Toxic Alcohol Crisis Spreads

Author: Gist Correspondent

The suspected toxic alcohol crisis in Ondo State has spread to Irele Local Government Area, with eight additional deaths reported, according to the state government.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, disclosed this in an interview with journalists on Wednesday, saying the latest fatalities brought the estimated number of affected persons across the areas to about 170.

Ajaka said Irele had become the latest area of serious concern, with health officials already deployed to communities affected by the crisis.

“As we are now, Irele Local Government Area is where we have a serious issue now. Our people are there and many people have died,” the commissioner said.

He added that eight people had been confirmed dead in Irele as of Tuesday night, while the overall figure of affected persons included those receiving treatment as well as those who had died.

The development came after Ajaka had earlier confirmed 29 deaths in communities in Odigbo Local Government Area during a news conference.

He said several other residents who consumed the suspected toxic alcoholic substances were receiving treatment in hospitals across the affected communities.

According to the commissioner, ethanol consumption was responsible for the health crisis, while the government had commenced measures to contain the situation and prevent its spread to other parts of the state.

Ajaka said medical and health personnel, alongside other stakeholders, had been deployed to affected communities, adding that response teams had moved into Irele to assess the situation and provide medical assistance.

He assured residents that the government was responding promptly whenever reports of the crisis emerged and urged the public to remain vigilant.

The commissioner advised residents to avoid consuming alcoholic drinks and other substances whose safety and contents could not be verified.

Meanwhile, the Ondo State Government has banned the sale of unverified alcoholic drinks as part of measures to contain the crisis and prevent further deaths.