NAFDAC has linked a suspected locally prepared alcoholic and herbal concoction to 182 cases of severe illness and 48 deaths in Ondo State, with five people reportedly rendered totally blind after consuming the substance.

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‎Preliminary laboratory tests detected high concentrations of toxic methanol in samples of the drink, raising fresh concerns over the dangers of unregistered alcoholic and herbal concoctions.

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‎The warning was contained in a statement issued by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and signed by its Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, who said the agency was taking necessary regulatory action in response to the incident.

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‎The incident was recorded in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, with New Town, Odole, Okele, Orita Odigbo, Araromi-Obu and Oniparaga among the affected communities. NAFDAC said Odigbo Town and Araromi-Obu recorded the highest impact.

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‎As of September 17, the agency said, 182 cases had been recorded and 48 deaths confirmed. Of the remaining affected persons, 90 had been admitted and subsequently discharged, 31 were treated as outpatients, while six remained hospitalised.

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‎The incident has also left some survivors with serious visual impairment, with NAFDAC reporting that five people had been rendered totally blind and two others partially blind.

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‎Reported symptoms included headache, generalised body weakness and pain, visual disturbances, difficulty in breathing and altered consciousness. Some of the affected persons, the agency said, deteriorated rapidly.

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‎NAFDAC added that the incident had extended beyond Odigbo Local Government Area to Irele Local Government Area, while noting that all the figures remained subject to ongoing verification.

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‎As part of its investigation, NAFDAC said 15 unlabelled samples of the suspected concoction were subjected to acute oral toxicity testing, chemical analysis using gas chromatography and microbiological examination.

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‎Preliminary findings showed that 11 of the 15 samples tested positive for Cannabis indica, while gas chromatography confirmed the presence of high concentrations of methanol.

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‎Methanol is a highly toxic substance that can cause blindness, organ failure and death, according to the agency. NAFDAC also said acute oral toxicity tests recorded approximately 50 per cent mortality in laboratory mice across six of the samples analysed, indicating significant toxic potential.

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‎However, the agency said confirmatory analyses were still ongoing to quantify the methanol concentration and identify any additional toxic agents. ‎NAFDAC said 15 people had been arrested in connection with the suspected production, sale and distribution of the implicated beverages.

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‎It added that surveillance, case management and risk-control measures were ongoing across the affected communities in coordination with relevant public-health authorities.

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‎‎The agency strongly warned Nigerians against purchasing or consuming unlicensed, unregistered and locally prepared alcoholic or herbal concoctions of unknown composition.

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‎It urged anyone experiencing sudden visual disturbances, severe headache, difficulty in breathing or altered consciousness after consuming such substances to seek immediate medical attention.

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‎The agency said its investigation and laboratory analyses were continuing, with the reported figures and findings subject to further verification.

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