49 die after drinking toxic liquor in Nigeria

At least 49 people have died in southern Nigeria after drinking locally made toxic liquor containing methanol. Around 100 people are undergoing treatment in hospital in the incident, according to a report in The Indian Express on Thursday, September 17.

The poisoning occurred in the Ode-Irele and Ogbogbo local government areas of Ondo State. A total of 182 people were affected, it was learned. Many of the affected have suffered kidney failure, loss of vision and brain damage.

The incident is believed to have occurred after toxic methanol was mixed with a locally brewed high-alcohol herbal drink known as 'Monkey Tail'. The first death was reported about two weeks before the incident came to light.

Ondo State police spokesperson Abayomi Jimoh said 15 people, including the manufacturers, have been arrested on suspicion of involvement. They are currently being interrogated in a police investigation.

Locally brewed liquor is quite popular in rural areas of Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, due to its low cost and weak regulation. To prevent such incidents, the country's food and drug administration and regulatory agency has taken an initiative to ban the sale of alcohol in plastic containers to keep it out of children's reach.