The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has confirmed that 48 people have died and five others have been rendered totally blind following the consumption of locally prepared alcoholic and herbal concoctions in parts of Ondo State.
The agency said a total of 182 cases have so far been recorded, with the incident affecting communities in Odigbo and Irele Local Government Areas.
In an update signed by NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the agency said the affected communities include New Town, Odole, Okele, Orita Odigbo, Araromi-Obu and Oniparaga, with Odigbo Town and Araromi-Obu recording the highest impact. (Premium Times Nigeria)
According to NAFDAC, 90 affected persons were admitted and subsequently discharged, six remain hospitalised, while 31 were treated as outpatients.
Two other victims were reported to have suffered partial blindness.
Methanol Found in Suspected Concoctions
NAFDAC said preliminary laboratory investigations detected high concentrations of methanol in samples of the suspected concoctions.
The agency analysed 15 unlabelled samples and found that 11 tested positive for Cannabis indica, while gas chromatography confirmed the presence of high concentrations of methanol.
NAFDAC said methanol is highly toxic and can cause blindness, organ failure and death. Acute oral toxicity tests also recorded approximately 50 per cent mortality in laboratory mice across six of the samples tested. (Premium Times Nigeria)
However, the agency stressed that further confirmatory tests are still being conducted to determine the precise methanol concentration and identify other possible toxic substances.
15 Arrested
NAFDAC disclosed that 15 people have been arrested in connection with the suspected production, sale and distribution of the implicated alcoholic and herbal beverages.
The agency said surveillance, case management, investigation and risk-control measures remain ongoing in the affected communities.
NAFDAC warned members of the public against consuming unlicensed, unregistered and locally prepared alcoholic or herbal concoctions of unknown composition.
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. (Punch)
NAFDAC said the figures remain subject to verification as investigations and surveillance continue.
Note: Some reports published around September 18–19 cited 49 deaths, but the latest NAFDAC update I found gives 48 confirmed deaths as of September 17, 2026. (Premium Times Nigeria)
