Horror has gripped residents of Odigbo town and Araromi-Obu in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State following the reported deaths of no fewer than 24 people in circumstances suspected to be linked to poisoning.

Several others reportedly affected by the incident are said to be receiving treatment in hospitals, while health authorities have commenced investigations to determine the actual cause of the deaths.

The incident, which reportedly occurred over the weekend, has caused fear and anxiety in the affected communities, with residents demanding urgent intervention from the authorities.

Confirming the incident on Wednesday, the Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, said the state government was investigating the suspected poisoning to establish the actual cause of the deaths.

Ajaka said the government was taking the matter seriously and would provide further information when the ongoing investigation had established what actually happened.

The commissioner, however, did not disclose the specific substance suspected to have caused the deaths, as medical and health officials were expected to conduct further assessments and laboratory examinations.

The Chairman of Odigbo Local Government Area, Taiwo Adegoroye, also confirmed the incident, saying the council was awaiting the outcome of professional assessments by medical experts before providing further details.

Adegoroye said the council had taken precautionary measures, including restrictions on the consumption and sale of sachet herbal concoctions and similar drinks in the affected communities pending the outcome of the investigation.

The reported deaths occurred in Odigbo town and Araromi-Obu, while several other suspected victims were said to have been hospitalised.

The development sparked a protest by youths in Odigbo town, who took to the streets and proceeded to the palace of the traditional ruler, Oba Rufus Akinrinmade, to demand explanations and urgent measures to prevent further loss of lives.

Addressing the protesters, Oba Akinrinmade appealed for calm and assured them that efforts would be made to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the deaths and find a lasting solution to the situation.

Speaking at the scene, the Permanent Secretary, Ondo State Ministry of Health, Dr Ayodele Adeji, said preliminary findings suggested a possible link between the deaths and the consumption of locally brewed alcoholic beverages.

Adeji specifically mentioned a locally produced drink popularly known as “Monkey Tail,” as well as other locally prepared herbal and ethanol-based drinks.

He, however, stressed that laboratory analysis of samples collected by the medical team was still ongoing, adding that further investigations would be required to establish whether there was any direct connection between consumption of the locally brewed drinks and the reported deaths.

Authorities are expected to conduct further medical examinations and laboratory analyses to establish the precise cause of the deaths and determine whether poisoning was responsible.

Meanwhile, residents of the affected communities have been urged to exercise caution and refrain from consuming suspicious herbal concoctions, locally brewed alcoholic drinks and other unverified products pending the conclusion of the investigation.