The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a suspected producer of the herbal drink allegedly linked to the deaths of residents in Araromi-Obu and Odigbo communities in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state.
The suspect, identified as Oloruntoba Babatunde, also known as “Meko,” was arrested as the police intensified investigations into the mysterious deaths which have reportedly claimed 29 lives and left about 60 others hospitalised.
The command also arrested 14 other persons for allegedly selling or consuming herbal drinks in defiance of a ban imposed by the local government authorities.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, saying substances suspected to contain methanol had been recovered from the suspect and submitted for forensic examination.
According to him, Babatunde is suspected to be involved in the production of substances containing methanol, and is currently assisting investigators in unraveling the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Jimoh said, “The Ondo State Police Command has contained the situation arising from reported cases of sudden and unnatural deaths involving youths in Araromi-Obu, Odigbo Local Government Area of the state, following sustained security, medical and investigative interventions.”
He explained that the suspected methanol-containing substances recovered from the suspect were undergoing further forensic analysis to determine their exact composition and establish whether they were connected to the reported deaths.
The police spokesman added that the bodies of the deceased were also undergoing medical and forensic procedures, including post-mortem examinations, to determine the actual cause of death.
“The outcome of the ongoing post-mortem examinations is expected to provide further medical evidence regarding the actual causes of the deaths,” he said.
Jimoh further disclosed that health officials had intensified medical interventions in the affected communities, with several youths taken to the Odigbo Local Government medical facility for assessment, testing and treatment.
Meanwhile, the 14 other suspects arrested by the police were identified as Ayemobola Abayomi, Ebeyilo Oyekan, Fadeyi Folake, Febisola Solomon, Olamojiba Akinyosoye, Julius Ogeichi, Seyifunmi Aduke, Adesanmi Toyin, Oluwoye Amaka, Adeyayi Ojo, Adebayo Olaniyi, Raphael Emeka, Adenuga Oluwaseun and Adediwura Godwin.
According to the police, the suspects were arrested at different locations for allegedly selling and consuming herbal drinks despite the subsisting ban.
The case has since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Akure, for discreet and comprehensive investigation.
Jimoh said a team of detectives visited Araromi-Obu on September 12 to gather additional evidence and advance the investigation.
The police urged residents of the affected communities to cooperate with investigators and health officials as efforts continue to establish the cause of the deaths and prevent further casualties.
