48 Dead In Nigeria After Drinking Suspected Methanol Contaminated Beverage

At least 48 people have died and around 100 others are receiving treatment in southern Nigeria after consuming a drink suspected to contain methanol, authorities said on Thursday, as police investigate the source of the suspected toxic beverage.

The cases have been reported in the Odigbo and Irele local government areas of Ondo state. Health Commissioner Banji Ajaka said 182 people were believed to have been affected, although local reports later put the death toll at 49 as the crisis spread to another area.

Ajaka said the suspected poisoning had caused severe and rapidly developing symptoms among victims. “This thing happened rapidly,” he told The Associated Press, warning that depending on the amount consumed, victims could suffer kidney failure, loss of vision and brain damage. Some people who fell ill have since been discharged from hospitals.

Authorities are still trying to establish exactly where the suspected methanol contaminated drink came from. Police spokesman Abayomi Jimoh said 15 people had been arrested in connection with the incident.

One of those arrested was allegedly producing a drink “suspected to contain methanol” and is assisting investigators, Jimoh said. Police have also begun medical and forensic procedures on the bodies of those who died as investigations continue.

The health crisis was initially reported in communities in Odigbo, including Araromi Obu, before cases were reported in Irele. Local reports said two Irele communities, Idogun and Gbogunron, were among the latest affected areas.

Ondo authorities have intensified surveillance and deployed medical teams to affected communities. State agencies are working with federal health and security bodies, including the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, police and other agencies, to identify the source and prevent further deaths.

Methanol is a highly toxic form of alcohol that can cause severe poisoning, blindness, organ damage and death when consumed. Nigeria has previously recorded deadly outbreaks linked to contaminated or illegally produced alcoholic drinks, including a major methanol poisoning outbreak in Ondo state in 2015.

Local media reports said the first death in the latest incident was recorded nearly two weeks ago, raising questions about how quickly the outbreak was identified and contained. Authorities continue to investigate the suspected contamination and the production and distribution of the drink.