The Ondo State Police Command has arresting a suspected producer of harmful alcoholic substances and recovering a substance suspected to be methanol, following the sudden deaths of 30 persons and 60 hospitalised at Araromi-Obu and Odigbo town, in Odigbo Local Government Area.
The Command said the development followed sustained security, medical and investigative interventions that had helped to contain the situation in the community, where several youths became critically ill and died after consuming suspected alcoholic concoctions.
The suspect, identified as Oloruntoba Babatunde, also known as “Meko”, is alleged to be involved in the production of substances suspected to contain methanol and is currently assisting the police with the investigation.
According to the police, substances suspected to be methanol were recovered from the suspect and had been subjected to further investigation and forensic examination to establish their exact composition and determine whether they were connected to the reported deaths.
The development came as the bodies of the deceased undergo medical and forensic procedures, with the outcome of post-mortem examinations expected to provide further evidence on the actual cause of the deaths.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Abayomi Jimoh, the Command said health officials had also intensified medical intervention, with a significant number of youths from Araromi-Obu taken to the Odigbo Local Government medical facility for assessment, testing and treatment.
Meanwhile, the police have expanded their crackdown on the production, sale and consumption of dangerous alcoholic drinks and concoctions, arresting 14 persons during enforcement operations in Ore and Odigbo.
The suspects, comprising alleged sellers and consumers of the drinks and concoctions, were arrested at different locations following reports of sudden and unexplained deaths allegedly associated with the consumption of such substances.
The Command said the enforcement operation was launched on the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Felix Ohagwu, with officers of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Akure, deployed to enforce relevant provisions of the Liquor Act.
The case has been transferred to the State CID, Akure, for discreet and comprehensive investigation, while a team of detectives visited Araromi-Obu on September 12 to gather additional evidence and advance the investigation.
The police said investigators were examining “every relevant lead”, including the source, production, composition, distribution and consumption of the suspected substances, as well as their possible connection with the reported deaths.
The 15 suspects, including the alleged producer, sellers and consumers, remain in police custody and are expected to be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations and in accordance with applicable laws.
The Commissioner of Police, warned that the Command would sustain its enforcement against the production, distribution and sale of unapproved, adulterated or dangerous alcoholic substances capable of endangering lives.
He urged residents to exercise extreme caution and refrain from consuming locally produced, unlabelled or suspicious alcoholic drinks and herbal concoctions whose contents, source or safety could not be verified.
The Command also called on members of the public to report the production, sale or circulation of suspected harmful substances to the nearest police station, assuring residents that it would continue working with health authorities, regulatory agencies and community leaders to unravel the circumstances surrounding the deaths and bring anyone found culpable to justice.
Fidelis David
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