Not less than six people were confirmed dead after consuming a local brand of alcoholic drink fondly known as “Ogogoro” in Ogun State.
RovingNaija gathered that the incident happened on Tuesday in Ogbogbo, an agrarian community in Ijebu North-East Local Government Area of the State, throwing the entire residents.
According to reports, the local gin was allegedly served by their friend.
It was reliably gathered that though there was a disagreement among the six friends and the suspect (now at large) over an undisclosed issue, some persons mediated and had it settled.
It was also gathered that though the six persons who drank the alcohol died, the seventh person who reportedly served the drink without partaking in the drinking was alive.
A resident in the area who is an alcohol seller had been accused of selling poisonous gin, which led to the death of people.
However, upon investigation, they gathered that the killer drink was served by one of the deceased person’s friends.
A few hours after they had departed to their various destinations, news filtered into the town that two of the friends had died while four others were hospitalised.
The other four persons died the following day while the suspect was reported to have fled over the incident.
The source said: “It was later that night that the news started breaking that those who drank from the alcohol were dying while some of them were rushed to the hospital.
“Six people have been announced dead and the whereabouts of the man who brought the alcohol was unknown.”
The mysterious death has created anxiety in Ijebuland over the alleged killer-drink in circulation.
A viral statement read: “Ogogoro drinker. There is a dangerous and killer local gin currently in circulation in Ijebuland. Over six people have gone to the burial ground in the last week. Save your life by totally abstaining from any herbal mixture made of ogogoro right now.”
The joint where the alleged contaminated alcohol was served has been put under lock by the local government authority.
Reacting to the development, the Ogun State Government confirmed that about eight persons had died while 11 others were in critical condition after allegedly taking killer alcoholic drinks in Odogbolu and Ijebu North-East LGAs of the state.
The Special Adviser to the State Governor on Health, Dr Tomi Coker, said there were reports of 11 cases of severe illnesses and eight deaths directly linked to the consumption of locally brewed alcoholic products.
Coker said: “It is of utmost importance to only consume products that have been officially approved and certified by NAFDAC.
“The unauthorised production and distribution of alcoholic beverages and other consumable items pose significant health risks as they are often manufactured in unregulated and unhygienic conditions, making them potential breeding grounds for harmful substances and toxins.
“Such substances can lead to severe health complications and, in some cases, fatal outcomes, as evidenced by the recent incidents in Ijebu North-East and Odogbolu LGAs.
“We, hereby, urge the public to report any suspicious locally brewed alcoholic drink to the appropriate authorities or NAFDAC.”
The Special Adviser added that residents should also report any case of illness or death after consumption of similar products including herbal concoctions to the nearest government hospital.
She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of its all residents, stressing that collaborative efforts among the government, regulatory bodies and the public were paramount to combat the sale and consumption of harmful products.
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