The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has confirmed 48 deaths out of 182 reported cases linked to the consumption of suspected locally prepared alcoholic and herbal concoctions in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The agency, in an update issued on Friday, said the public health incident had affected several communities, including New Town, Odole, Okele, Orita Odigbo, Araromi-Obu and Oniparaga, with Odigbo Town and Araromi-Obu recording the highest impact.
According to NAFDAC, as of September 17, 2026, 90 affected persons had been admitted and discharged, 31 treated as outpatients, while six remained hospitalised. The agency also reported that five victims had suffered total blindness and two others partial blindness.
The reported symptoms include severe headache, general weakness and body pain, visual disturbances, breathing difficulties and altered consciousness, with some patients deteriorating rapidly. NAFDAC said the incident had also spread beyond Odigbo to Irele Local Government Area, while stressing that the figures remain subject to ongoing verification.
Laboratory investigations have raised serious concerns over the composition and toxicity of the suspected beverages.
NAFDAC said 15 unlabelled samples of the implicated concoction were subjected to acute oral toxicity testing, gas chromatography and microbiological examination. Preliminary results showed that 11 of the 15 samples tested positive for Cannabis indica, while gas chromatography detected high concentrations of methanol.
Methanol is a highly toxic substance that can cause severe poisoning, blindness, organ failure and death when ingested.
The agency further disclosed that acute oral toxicity tests resulted in approximately 50 per cent mortality among laboratory mice exposed to six of the samples, indicating significant toxic potential. It said confirmatory laboratory analyses were still underway to determine the precise methanol concentrations and identify any additional toxic substances.
As part of the investigation, 15 persons have been arrested over the suspected production, sale and distribution of the implicated beverages.
NAFDAC said surveillance, case management and risk-control measures were continuing across the affected communities in collaboration with relevant public health authorities.
The agency urged Nigerians to avoid unlicensed, unregistered and locally prepared alcoholic or herbal concoctions whose contents and safety cannot be verified.
It also advised anyone who develops sudden visual disturbances, severe headache, breathing difficulties or altered consciousness after consuming such substances to seek immediate medical attention.
NAFDAC Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, commiserated with the families of those who lost their lives and assured the public that the agency was taking all necessary regulatory and investigative measures in response to the incident.
The agency said further updates would be issued as investigations and verification of the affected cases continue.
