Ondo: Police arrest suspected producer of killer herbal drinks

Ondo State Police Command, Police Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Abayomi

The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a man, Oloruntoba Babatunde, who allegedly produced a herbal liquid substance that killed many people in Araromi-Obu and Odigbo communities in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state.

It was earlier reported that no fewer than 29 residents of the two communities were killed, while about 60 others were hospitalised following their consumption of the killer herbal drinks.

In a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the state police command, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, on Monday, the suspect was apprehended while 14 others were arrested for violating the ban placed by the local government on the sale of herbal products.

The command also said it had commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths, while the bodies of the deceased were undergoing the necessary medical and forensic procedures.

The statement read, “The Ondo State Police Command has contained the situation arising from reported cases of sudden and unnatural deaths involving youths in 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.

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“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 PPRO, the outcome of the ongoing post-mortem examinations “is expected to provide further medical evidence regarding the actual causes of the deaths.”

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.”

On the other 14 suspects, the police spokesman said they were arrested for selling and consuming herbal drinks at different locations, in violation of the subsisting order banning the sale and consumption of the products.

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.