The Ondo State Police Command has arrested an alleged producer of methanol-laced alcohol and 14 others following a series of sudden deaths reportedly linked to the consumption of alcoholic drinks and concoctions in Araromi-Obu, Odigbo Local Government Area of the state.
The suspected producer, identified as Oloruntoba Babatunde, popularly known as “Meko,” was arrested after police recovered substances suspected to be methanol from him.
The 14 others, comprising with the alleged sellers and consumers, were also apprehended during an enforcement operation to unravel circumstances surrounding deaths of consumers.
The 14 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 arrests were made in Ore and Odigbo on Sunday, following reports of sudden and unexplained deaths among youths in Araromi-Obu allegedly associated with the consumption of the substances.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed the development in a statement, saying the operation was carried out on the directive of the Commissioner of Police, CP Felix Ohagwu.
Jimoh said the suspected methanol recovered from Babatunde had been submitted for forensic examination to establish its composition and determine whether it was connected to the reported deaths.
He added that detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department, Akure, visited Araromi-Obu on September 12 to gather further evidence.
The police spokesman said the deceased were undergoing medical and forensic procedures, including post-mortem examinations, while several affected youths had been taken to the Odigbo Local Government medical facility for assessment, testing and treatment.
The case has been transferred to the State CID, Akure, for a comprehensive investigation into the source, production, composition, distribution and consumption of the suspected substances.
The police urged residents to shun unlabelled or suspicious alcoholic drinks and herbal concoctions and report anyone involved in producing or selling potentially harmful substances.