Nigeria: 49 dead and 182 hospitalized after consuming counterfeit alcohol, one person arrested

The death toll from the consumption of counterfeit alcohol in Ondo State, southwestern Nigeria, has risen to at least 49, while 182 others are receiving treatment in hospital.

Ondo Health Commissioner Bandji Ajaka announced that the number of deaths had risen sharply. Local authorities reported on September 5 that 29 people had died within a week of consuming the counterfeit drinks.

Authorities’ main suspicion is methanol poisoning, involving a toxic substance that can end up in alcoholic beverages produced illegally and without proper controls.

The victims are suspected of having drunk a type of locally produced gin known in the community as “Monkey Tail.” In some parts of Nigeria, unregulated alcoholic drinks are widely consumed because they cost less and are easier to produce.

According to Ajaka, the poisoning cases may be linked to two traditional ceremonies held in the Odigbo region, where attendees consumed a local drink. So far, this suspicion has not been confirmed by laboratory tests.

The intoxicated people have shown serious symptoms, including headaches, body pain, difficulty breathing, hallucinations and loss of vision.

“It happens very quickly. As soon as they drink it, depending on the quantity, the kidneys stop functioning, the eyes become blind and the brain is damaged,” Ajaka said, explaining the consequences of the poisoning.