ONDO POLICE ARREST SUSPECTED MAKER OF DEADLY HERBAL DRINKS
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By:Aminat Tajudeen
The Ondo State Police Command has arrested Oloruntoba Babatunde, a suspected producer of a herbal liquid believed to have caused the deaths of several residents in Araromi-Obu and Odigbo communities in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state.
Earlier reports indicated that at least 29 people from the two communities died, while about 60 others were hospitalised after allegedly consuming the herbal drinks.
In a statement issued on Monday, the command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, said Babatunde was arrested alongside 14 other suspects for allegedly violating a local government directive banning the sale and consumption of herbal products.
The police spokesman said the command had launched an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths, adding that the remains of the deceased were undergoing medical and forensic examinations.
The statement said the development followed the arrest of Babatunde, also known as “Meko,” who is suspected of producing substances believed to contain methanol. He is currently assisting the police with the investigation.
The police said substances suspected to contain methanol were recovered from the suspect and had been submitted for forensic analysis to determine their composition and establish whether they were linked to the reported deaths.
According to the command, the outcome of the ongoing post-mortem examinations is expected to provide additional medical evidence on the actual causes of the deaths.
The PPRO added that health officials had intensified medical interventions, with several youths from the affected communities taken to the Odigbo Local Government medical facility for assessment, testing and treatment.
The other 14 suspects were reportedly arrested at different locations for allegedly selling or consuming herbal drinks in defiance of the ban imposed by the local government.
The suspects were identified as Ayemobola Abayomi, Ebeyilo Oyekan, Fadeyi Folake, Febisola Solomon, Olamojiba Akinyosoye, Julius Ogeichi, Seyifunmi Aduke, Adesanmi Toyin, Oluwoye Amaka, Adeyayi Ojo, Adebayo Olaniyi, Raphael Emeka, Adenuga Oluwaseun and Adediwura Godwin.
The police said the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Akure for a discreet and comprehensive investigation.
Jimoh further disclosed that a team of detectives visited Araromi-Obu on September 12, 2026, to gather additional evidence and advance the investigation.
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