At Least 48 Dead in Nigeria After Consuming Alcohol Suspected of Containing Methanol

At least 48 people have died and about 100 others are receiving medical treatment in southern Nigeria after drinking a locally brewed alcoholic concoction suspected of containing methanol, according to health officials. The tragic incidents occurred in the Odigbo and Irele local government areas of Ondo state over recent days, with state officials reporting a total of 182 affected individuals.

Banji Ajaka, the Ondo state commissioner for health, explained the severity of the poisonings in statements reported by the Associated Press. He noted that the toxic effects manifest rapidly depending on the volume consumed, leading to severe organ failure including kidney collapse, brain damage, and permanent loss of vision.

Victims receiving hospital care have recounted sudden and debilitating symptoms. Sola Adebayo, a 32-year-old patient speaking to local television network TVC News from a hospital bed, described how quickly the affliction struck: "I took like two shots and I went out on Friday. On Saturday, I noticed that I could not see."

Local residents and community members speaking to reporters pointed their suspicions toward a popular herbal beverage with a high alcohol content, commonly referred to as "Monkey Tail," which may have been adulterated with methanol. A local trader in Odigbo, who spoke on the condition of anonymity fearing potential arrest, told the Associated Press that the drink exists in multiple forms, including an original version alongside an unsafe variation.

In response to the crisis, law enforcement authorities have moved swiftly. Ondo state police spokesperson Abayomi Jimoh announced in a statement that 15 individuals have been arrested in connection with the poisoning outbreak. Among those detained is a suspect allegedly linked directly to the production of the methanol-laced substances, who is currently cooperating with police investigators.

Drinking locally produced, unbranded alcoholic beverages is a widespread practice across Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation. These traditional or artisanal drinks are particularly prevalent in rural communities, where they serve as a more affordable alternative to commercial products but often lack standardized manufacturing oversight, proper quality control, and regulatory enforcement.

Local media reports indicate that the first fatality linked to the recent batch of tainted alcohol was documented nearly two weeks prior to the official state announcements. The unfolding public health emergency has further intensified scrutiny surrounding informal alcohol production and distribution networks in the region.

Concurrently, broader regulatory measures are underway at the national level. Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control is actively enforcing a nationwide prohibition on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small plastic containers, citing concerns that these cheap, easily portable formats are readily accessible to children and young people.

As medical personnel continue to treat the remaining survivors and police investigations proceed, authorities have urged heightened public awareness regarding the dangers of consuming unverified, locally manufactured alcoholic concoctions. Further updates on the police investigation and the conditions of hospitalized victims are expected as local and national health agencies monitor the situation.