Ondo: Police apprehend herbal drink producer, 14 others

The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a man identified as Oloruntoba Babatunde over the alleged production of a herbal liquid believed to have caused the deaths of several residents in Araromi-Obu and Odigbo communities in Odigbo Local Government Area.

At least 29 people were earlier reported dead, while about 60 others were hospitalised after allegedly consuming the herbal drinks in the affected communities.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed the arrest in a statement issued on Monday.

According to him, Babatunde was arrested alongside 14 other suspects for allegedly violating a ban imposed by the local government on the sale of herbal products.

The police said investigations are ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths and the role of the suspects in the distribution of the herbal products.

The command also said it had commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths, while the bodies of the deceased were undergoing the necessary medical and forensic procedures.

The statement read, “The Ondo State Police Command has contained the situation arising from reported cases of sudden and unnatural deaths involving youths in Araromi-Obu, Odigbo Local Government Area of the state, following sustained security, medical and investigative interventions.

“The development follows the arrest of one Oloruntoba Babatunde, a.k.a. ‘Meko,’ who is suspected to be involved in the production of substances suspected to contain methanol and is currently assisting the police with investigations.

“Substances suspected to be methanol were also recovered and have been subjected to further investigation and necessary forensic examination to establish their exact composition and determine any possible link to the reported deaths.

“The command has commenced investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths, while the bodies of the deceased are undergoing the necessary medical and forensic procedures.”

According to the PPRO, the outcome of the ongoing post-mortem examinations “is expected to provide further medical evidence regarding the actual causes of the deaths.”

He added, “In the meantime, health officials have intensified medical intervention, with a significant number of youths from the affected communities taken to the Odigbo Local Government medical facility for medical assessment, testing and treatment.”

On the other 14 suspects, the police spokesman said they were arrested for selling and consuming herbal drinks at different locations, in violation of the subsisting order banning the sale and consumption of the products.

According to him, the suspects are 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 case has been transferred to the State CID, Akure, for discreet and comprehensive investigation. A team of detectives was also at Araromi-Obu on 12 September 2026 to advance investigative activities and gather further evidence,” the PPRO said.

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