Ondo: At least 24 people died and 50 others were hospitalized following a suspected poisoning incident in two communities in Nigeria's southwestern Ondo state, local authorities said on Wednesday. The deaths occurred in the towns of Araromi Obu and Odigbo in the Odigbo Local Government Area after residents allegedly consumed a herbal liquid substance.

According to Anadolu Agency, Taiwo Adegoroye, chairman of the Odigbo Local Government, confirmed the fatalities, reporting eight deaths in Araromi Obu and 16 in Odigbo. He also noted that 50 individuals had been hospitalized as a result of the incident. Authorities are still conducting medical examinations and tests to determine if the substance consumed by the victims was indeed the cause of the deaths.

Adegoroye stated in a statement shared with Anadolu that many affected individuals became unconscious after consuming the substance. The Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Banji Ajaka, announced that the state government had initiated an investigation to uncover the cause of the incident.

As a preventive measure, the local government has imposed a ban on the sale and consumption of locally brewed alcoholic drinks in the affected areas. This development has stirred concern among residents, leading to protests by the youth, who visited the palace of the Odigbo traditional ruler to demand immediate action.

Oba Rufus Akinrinmade, the traditional ruler, has called for calm and assured the community that investigations are underway to understand the circumstances that led to the tragic event.