Ondo herbal poisoning: Methanol, cannabis found in drinks that killed 48 — NAFDAC

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has confirmed the presence of high concentrations of methanol and Cannabis indica in locally prepared alcoholic and herbal concoctions linked to the deaths of 48 people in Ondo State.

The agency also disclosed that seven people had been rendered blind, while 182 cases of illness had been recorded as of September 17, 2026.

NAFDAC made this known in an update issued on Friday and signed by the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, on the mass illnesses and deaths recorded in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state.

The affected communities include New Town, Odole, Okele, Orita Odigbo, Araromi-Obu and Oniparaga, with the highest impact recorded in Odigbo Town and Araromi-Obu.

“Disturbingly, 5 persons have been rendered totally blind and 2 partially blind,” the agency said.

NAFDAC said 90 of the affected persons were admitted and subsequently discharged, 31 were treated as outpatients, while six remained hospitalised.

It said the clinical symptoms reported included “headache, generalised body weakness and pain, visual disturbances, difficulty in breathing, and altered consciousness,” adding that some cases deteriorated rapidly.

The agency said the incident had since extended beyond Odigbo to Irele Local Government Area, noting that “all figures remain subject to ongoing verification.”

The development followed an earlier report by PUNCH that the death toll from the suspected herbal poisoning incident in Odigbo had risen to 29, with 60 suspected cases recorded at the time.

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

“Preliminary findings are gravely concerning: 11 of the 15 samples tested positive for cannabis indica, and gas chromatography confirmed the presence of high concentrations of methanol – a highly toxic substance that causes blindness, organ failure, and death,” the agency said.

It added that acute oral toxicity tests recorded approximately 50 per cent mortality in laboratory mice across six of the samples analysed, “indicating significant toxic potential.”

NAFDAC said confirmatory analyses to quantify the methanol concentration and identify additional toxic agents were ongoing.

The agency also disclosed that 15 people had been arrested in connection with the suspected production, sale and distribution of the implicated beverages.

It said, “Surveillance, case management, and risk-control measures are actively ongoing across the affected communities, in coordination with relevant public health authorities.”

NAFDAC warned members of the public against the purchase or consumption of unlicensed, unregistered and locally prepared alcoholic or herbal concoctions of unknown composition.

“NAFDAC strongly warns the public against the purchase or consumption of unlicensed, unregistered, and locally prepared alcoholic or herbal concoctions of unknown composition,” it said.

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

Adeyeye, commiserated with the families of those who lost their lives and assured the public that “every necessary regulatory action is being taken.”