Mirian Gom 
LAGOS, Nigeria – The death toll from suspected toxic alcoholic and herbal concoctions in Ondo State has risen to 48, with 182 people affected, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says.
NAFDAC also disclosed that preliminary laboratory analysis detected high concentrations of methanol in samples of the suspected concoctions, raising concerns over their potential to cause severe poisoning, blindness, organ failure and death.
The agency made the disclosure in an update report signed by its Director-General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, and dated September 18, 2026.
The affected communities are in Odigbo Local Government Area, including New Town, Odole, Okele, Orita Odigbo, Araromi-Obu and Oniparaga.
“Of the 182 reported cases, 90 persons were admitted and subsequently discharged, six remain hospitalised, while 31 were treated as outpatients,” NAFDAC said.
The agency added that five people became totally blind, while two others suffered partial blindness.
Affected people reportedly presented with headache, generalised weakness and body pain, visual disturbances, difficulty breathing and altered consciousness. Some cases deteriorated rapidly.
NAFDAC said 15 people had been arrested over the suspected production, sale and distribution of the implicated locally produced alcoholic and herbal beverages.
The agency said 15 unlabeled samples were subjected to toxicological, microbiological and chemical screening as part of its laboratory investigation.
“The acute oral toxicity test results for all samples recorded critically sick mice and approximately 50 percent mortality were recorded in six samples out of the 15 analysed, indicating significant toxic potential of the samples,” the agency stated.
NAFDAC said the critically ill animals recovered after 24 hours but warned that those that recovered could still die if exposed to a second dose.
Chemical screening also detected Cannabis indica in 11 samples, while gas chromatography confirmed high concentrations of methanol.
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Oluwatobi Adu 
