Lifestyle
Ondo Mourning as 24 Die After Drinking Herbal Substance
The Ondo State Government on Wednesday confirmed the deaths of some residents of Odigbo Local Government Area following the consumption of a herbal liquid substance.
No fewer than 24 people from two communities in the council area—Araromi Obu and Odigbo town—reportedly died after consuming the substance.
The incident, which reportedly occurred on Saturday, has thrown the affected communities into mourning.
A source in the area said the deceased consumed the substance at different locations on Saturday before some of them became unconscious and later died.
Others who consumed the substance were rushed to the hospital for treatment.
The source said eight people died in Araromi Obu, while 16 others lost their lives in Odigbo town.
According to the source, “They (the deceased) drank the herbal substance and started dying, eight people died in Araromi Obu while 16 lost their lives in Odigbo town but we are yet to confirm if it is what they drank that killed them but we are sure that the people died after drinking the herbal drinks.
“Some of the people died in their sleep while some died when they got home and many are still in the hospital as I am talking to you.”
Confirming the incident in a telephone interview, the Chairman of Odigbo Local Government, Mr Taiwo Adegoroye, said the deceased had consumed the substance before the incident.
He added that they were awaiting the arrival of a medical team to conduct autopsies and determine the actual cause of the deaths.
[The Punch]