NAFDAC CONFIRMS METHANOL, CANNABIS IN CONCOCTIONS LINKED TO 48 ONDO DEATHS

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By ‘Balogun Ibrahim

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

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

NAFDAC disclosed this in an update issued on Friday and signed by its Director-General, 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 Odigbo Town and Araromi-Obu recording the highest number of cases.

“Disturbingly, five persons have been rendered totally blind and two partially blind,” the agency stated.

NAFDAC said 90 affected persons were admitted and later discharged, while 31 were treated as outpatients. Six others remained hospitalised as of the latest update.

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The agency said reported symptoms included headache, general body weakness and pain, visual disturbances, difficulty breathing and altered consciousness, adding that some cases deteriorated rapidly.

NAFDAC noted that the incident had spread beyond Odigbo to Irele Local Government Area, stressing that all figures remained subject to ongoing verification.

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

According to NAFDAC, 15 unlabelled samples of the suspected concoction were subjected to acute oral toxicity testing, chemical analysis using 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 among laboratory mice across six of the samples analysed, indicating significant toxic potential.

NAFDAC said confirmatory tests to determine the precise concentration of methanol and identify other possible toxic substances were still 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 were ongoing across the affected communities in collaboration with relevant public health authorities.

NAFDAC warned members of the public against purchasing or consuming unlicensed, unregistered and locally prepared alcoholic or herbal concoctions whose contents are unknown.

The agency urged anyone who experiences sudden visual disturbances, severe headache, difficulty 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 all necessary regulatory measures were being taken.