The police command in Ondo has arrested 14 suspects in connection with the sale and consumption of alcoholic drinks linked to the deaths of 29 people in Odigbo council area.

The command’s spokesperson, Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

Mr Jimoh said the arrests followed the state government’s ban on the sale and distribution of unverified alcoholic drinks, and an enforcement operation by the police in the affected communities.

The health commissioner, Banji Ajaka, confirmed the deaths of 29 people and 60 cases of suspected alcoholic poisoning in the local government. Mr Ajaka said the cases were recorded mainly in Araromi-Obu, Orita Odigbo, Newtown, Odole, Okele and Oniparaga communities.

Some residents reportedly fell ill after consuming substances suspected to be herbal alcoholic drinks.

Speaking further on the incident, the spokesperson for the command said the arrest and recovery followed sustained security, medical and investigative interventions by relevant authorities.

Mr Jimoh said that during the operation, 14 suspects—comprising alleged sellers and consumers of the deadly drinks and concoctions—were arrested. He noted that the suspects were transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.

“The enforcement followed directives of the commissioner of police, Felix Ohagwu, on targeted dangerous and potentially life-threatening alcoholic drinks and concoctions,” he said.

Mr Jimoh said the command was investigating every relevant lead, including the source, production, composition, distribution and consumption of the suspected drinks.

”The substances suspected to be methanol have been recovered and subjected to further investigation and necessary forensic examination. This is to establish their exact composition and determine any possible link to the reported deaths,” he said.

Mr Jimoh said the bodies of the deceased were undergoing post-mortem examinations, while health officials had intensified medical intervention.

The command’s spokesperson said several youths from the affected communities were taken to the Odigbo council’s medical facility for assessment, testing and treatment. He said the suspects would remain in police custody and would be charged to court after investigation.

Mr Jimoh urged residents to exercise extreme caution and avoid locally brewed, unlabelled alcoholic drinks and herbal concoctions.

(NAN)