At least 49 people have died and another 182 are being treated after being poisoned by consuming adulterated alcohol in Ondo State in southwestern Nigeria, a local official announced today.
On September 5, local authorities reported that 29 people had died within a week after consuming adulterated alcohol. Odo State Health Commissioner Banji Anzaka said the death toll had risen to 49.
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Authorities believe the deaths were caused by methanol poisoning. The victims had consumed a local gin, which locals call “Monkey Tail,” a fact that underscores the dangers of unregulated alcoholic beverages, which are widely available in various parts of Nigeria because they are cheap and easy to produce.
Ajaka said the poisonings may be linked to two traditional ceremonies held in the Odigbo region, during which attendees consume a local alcoholic beverage. However, these suspicions have not yet been confirmed by laboratory tests.
The victims exhibited symptoms such as headaches, body aches, difficulty breathing, hallucinations, and blindness. “It happens very quickly. As soon as they drink it—depending on the amount—their kidneys shut down, their eyes go blind, and their brain is destroyed,” said Atzaka. Police have arrested a suspect.
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Source: KYPE
