POLICE ARREST MAN LINKED TO DEADLY HERBAL DRINK OUTBREAK IN ONDO

The Ondo State Police Command has arrested Oloruntoba Babatunde, also known as “Meko,” over his alleged involvement in the production of a herbal liquid suspected to have caused the deaths of several residents in Araromi-Obu and Odigbo communities in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state. The arrest comes after the reported deaths of at least 29 people, while about 60 others were hospitalised after consuming the suspected harmful drinks.

The police said Babatunde was arrested alongside 14 other suspects, who were allegedly involved in the sale or consumption of herbal drinks despite an existing ban on the products in the affected area. The command said substances suspected to contain methanol were recovered and had been submitted for further investigation and forensic examination to establish their exact composition and determine whether they were responsible for the reported deaths.

The police spokesperson, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, said the command had intensified security and investigative operations following the sudden and unnatural deaths recorded among youths in the communities. He said health officials were also carrying out medical assessments, testing and treatment for affected residents, while the bodies of those who died were undergoing medical and forensic procedures.

Jimoh added that post-mortem examinations would provide further medical evidence on the actual cause of the deaths. The 14 other suspects arrested 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.

The police said the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Akure for a discreet and comprehensive investigation. Detectives were also deployed to Araromi-Obu on September 12 to gather additional evidence, while laboratory and post-mortem findings are expected to help investigators establish the source of the suspected toxic substance and its connection to the deaths.