Suspected alcohol poisoning in Nigeria's Ondo State kills at least 49 people
In Nigeria's Ondo state, at least 49 people have died and 100 others injured after drinking alcohol suspected to contain methanol. Local authorities say 'Monkey Shoulder', a locally brewed herbal drink with high alcohol content is believed to have been the source of the poisoning, but investigations are still ongoing. State police have announced the arrest of 15 people in connection with the…
At least 49 people have died in Ondo State, Nigeria, after consuming locally brewed herbal drinks suspected to contain methanol. According to France 24, the drinks in question are known as "Monkey Shoulder" and have a high alcohol content.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has confirmed the presence of high concentrations of methanol and Cannabis indica in the concoctions. As of September 17, 2026, NAFDAC reported 48 deaths, 182 cases of illness, and seven people rendered blind, with five totally blind and two partially blind.
The affected communities include New Town, Odole, Okele, Orita Odigbo, Araromi-Obu, and Oniparaga, with Odigbo Town and Araromi-Obu being the hardest hit. Clinical symptoms reported include headache, generalised body weakness and pain, visual disturbances, difficulty in breathing, and altered consciousness. France 24 reports that 15 people have been arrested in connection with the incident.
Brief written by urgent.news from France 24, Punch, Punch Nigeria — 3 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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