The fatality count from the toxic herbal drink (agbo) contamination in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State has escalated to 27, prompting state authorities to initiate an immediate enforcement drive against unregistered herbal mixtures and illicit concoctions.
Initially, 24 deaths were reported across Araromi Obu and Odigbo town after several residents suffered severe organ complications shortly after consuming locally prepared herbal drinks.
Local authorities contain spread following health intervention
Providing an update on the public health crisis, the Chairman of Odigbo Local Government Area, Taiwo Adegoroye, confirmed three additional fatalities, bringing the total death toll to 27.
“The death toll has reached 27, but the proactive measures taken by joint medical response teams from the state and local levels helped prevent a higher number of casualties,” Adegoroye stated. “The health teams and task forces are actively monitoring parks, open markets, and transit stops to seize uncertified products and enforce the state’s prohibition orders.”
State health officers and environmental inspectors remain deployed across affected communities to collect sample batches, trace production sources, and identify the specific chemical contaminants involved in the poisonings.
Ondo State issues warning over uncertified remedies
In response to the tragedy, the Ondo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Idowu Ajanaku, issued an official health advisory warning the public against consuming uncertified concoctions, traditional remedies, or unregulated liquid mixtures.
“The government strongly cautions sellers, manufacturers, and distributors of uncertified substances to cease operations immediately. The distribution of unapproved remedies poses grave public health risks and will attract strict legal sanctions,” the statement read.
The state government also appealed to residents—particularly young adults—to refrain from substance abuse and avoid self-medicating with unverified liquid remedies. Authorities urged citizens to buy health products only from licensed pharmacies and regulated outlets.
Understanding the risks of unregulated herbal mixtures in Nigeria
The crisis in Ondo State underscores recurring concerns surrounding the regulation of traditional liquid mixtures, locally known as agbo, across Nigeria.
While traditional herbal medicine is widely practised, unregulated preparation processes frequently risk chemical contamination, heavy metal toxicity, or adulteration with synthetic compounds to heighten potency.
National regulatory bodies, including the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), continually advise consumers to verify product authorization stamps before purchase and urge local producers to register their formulas to ensure standardisation and safety.
Investigation into the exact toxic agents responsible for the deaths in Odigbo LGA remains ongoing.
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