The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a man, Oloruntoba Babatunde, for reportedly producing an herbal liquid substance that killed several persons in the state’s Araromi-Obu and Odigbo towns in the Odigbo LGA.
Chronicle NG reports that 29 members of the two settlements were killed, while approximately 60 more were hospitalized as a result of consuming the deadly herbal drinks.
According to a statement published on Monday by the state police command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, the suspect was detained, while 14 others were arrested for breaking the local government’s prohibition on herbal product sales.
The command also stated that it had launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths and that the deceased’s remains were undergoing medical and forensic examinations.
The statement read, “The Ondo State Police Command has contained the situation arising from reported cases of sudden and unnatural deaths involving youths in the Araromi-Obu, Odigbo Local Government Area of the state, following sustained security, medical, and investigative interventions.
“The development follows the arrest of one Oloruntoba Babatunde, a.k.a. ‘Meko,’ who is suspected to be involved in the production of substances suspected to contain methanol and is currently assisting the police with investigations.
“Substances suspected to be methanol were also recovered and have been subjected to further investigation and necessary forensic examination to establish their exact composition and determine any possible link to the reported deaths.
“The command has commenced investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths, while the bodies of the deceased are undergoing the necessary medical and forensic procedures.”
According to the police spokesman, the outcome of the ongoing post-mortem examinations “is expected to provide further medical evidence regarding the actual causes of the deaths.”
According to the police spokesman, the other 14 defendants were arrested for selling and using herbal drinks at various locations, in contravention of the existing order prohibiting the sale and use of the items.
According to him, the 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 case has been transferred to the State CID, Akure, for discreet and comprehensive investigation. A team of detectives was also at Araromi-Obu on 12 September 2026 to advance investigative activities and gather further evidence,” the PPRO said.
He added, “In the meantime, health officials have intensified medical intervention, with a significant number of youths from the affected communities taken to the Odigbo Local Government medical facility for medical assessment, testing, and treatment.”
