At least 48 people have died and nearly 180 others are receiving emergency treatment after drinking homemade alcohol laced with methanol in Ondo state, south-west Nigeria. The victims were concentrated in the Odigbo and Irele local government areas, according to health authorities and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
Methanol: the hidden killer in local brews
Toxicology tests confirmed that seized batches of locally distilled drinks contained lethal concentrations of methanol, an industrial alcohol commonly used as a solvent or fuel. Among the most affected products was a popular concoction known locally as “Monkey Tail.”
Beyond the fatalities, dozens of survivors remain hospitalized with irreversible damage, including permanent blindness and acute kidney failure.
Police arrests 15 suspects in crackdown on illicit distilleries
In response to the escalating public health crisis, Ondo state police have arrested at least 15 people suspected of involvement in the illegal production, adulteration, and distribution of the tainted liquor. Regulatory teams have also stepped up raids on local markets and informal vendors, confiscating suspect stock and shutting down clandestine distillation operations.
Health officials urge public to avoid unregulated alcohol
NAFDAC and the Ondo state Ministry of Health have issued a urgent warning, urging residents to refrain from consuming any homemade or informally sold alcoholic beverages. The agencies stressed that only products from licensed distribution channels should be considered safe.
This latest incident underscores the persistent dangers of the informal trade in cheap, adulterated liquor—a recurring problem across parts of West Africa where such drinks are favored for their low cost.