By Dayo Johnson
AKURE — The Ondo State Police Command has arrested 15 suspects in reference to the sale and distribution of an area natural alcoholic combination popularly often known as “monkey tail,” suspected to have prompted the deaths of 30 individuals in Odigbo Native Authorities Space of the state.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Jimoh Abayomi, disclosed this in a press release issued in Akure on Sunday.
In line with him, a kind of arrested is Oloruntoba Babatunde, alias “Meko,” who’s suspected of being concerned within the manufacturing of the toxic substance believed to comprise methanol.
Abayomi mentioned Babatunde was aiding the police with investigations, including that substances suspected to be methanol had additionally been recovered and despatched for forensic examination to find out their composition and attainable hyperlink to the reported deaths.
The arrests adopted the state authorities’s ban on the sale and distribution of unverified alcoholic drinks after 30 individuals reportedly died and 50 others had been hospitalised in Odigbo after consuming the natural alcoholic combination.
The Commissioner for Info and Orientation, Idowu Ajanaku, mentioned the ban was aimed toward stopping additional deaths.
He mentioned the directive coated alcoholic drinks and different substances bought in sachets, bottles or different types whose sources or regulatory standing couldn’t be verified.
Abayomi mentioned officers of the State Felony Investigation Division (CID), Akure, performed an enforcement operation underneath the Liquor Act in Ore and Odigbo following reviews of sudden deaths allegedly linked to consumption of the substances.
In the course of the operation, 14 suspects, comprising alleged sellers and customers, had been arrested.
They’re 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.
Abayomi mentioned the case had been transferred to the State CID, Akure, for discreet and complete investigation.
“A workforce of detectives was additionally at Araromi-Obu on 12 September 2026 to advance investigative actions,” he mentioned.
He added that the command was investigating the supply, manufacturing, distribution and consumption of the suspected substances, in addition to their attainable reference to the reported deaths.
The police spokesperson mentioned the our bodies of the deceased had been present process autopsy examinations, whereas well being officers had intensified medical intervention, with many youths from the affected neighborhood taken to the Odigbo Native Authorities medical facility for remedy.
Abayomi urged members of the general public to keep away from regionally produced, unlabelled or suspicious alcoholic drinks and natural concoctions and report the manufacturing or sale of suspected dangerous substances to the closest police station.
“The Command stays dedicated to working with well being authorities and different stakeholders to ascertain the total circumstances surrounding the incident and convey anybody discovered culpable to justice,” he mentioned.
