At least 48 people have died and around 100 others are receiving medical treatment in Nigeria’s southern Ondo State after consuming a drink suspected of containing methanol, health officials said Thursday.
In a statement, Ondo State Commissioner for Health Banji Ajaka said 182 people were believed to have been affected in the Odigbo and Irele local government areas.
The affected individuals reportedly developed severe health complications after consuming the beverage, with some later discharged from hospitals, Ajaka noted.
Police have arrested 15 people in connection with the incident, according to Ondo State police spokesperson Abayomi Jimoh.
Jimoh said one of those arrested had been producing a drink suspected of containing methanol and was assisting police with the investigation.
Domestic media reports indicated that the first death was recorded nearly two weeks ago.
Locally produced alcoholic drinks are widely consumed in Nigeria, particularly in rural areas where they are often more affordable than commercially produced alternatives.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is enforcing a nationwide ban on alcoholic drinks sold in sachets and small plastic containers, citing concerns over their accessibility to children and young people.
