Ondo Govt Links Naming Ceremonies to 29 Tragic Deaths from ‘Monkey Tail’ Consumption as Task Force Shuts Down Dens

The Ondo State Government has revealed that the tragic outbreak of mass poisoning that claimed 29 lives in Odigbo Local Government Area was directly traced to contaminated local gin and “Monkey Tail” served during community naming ceremonies.

The disturbing disclosure was made by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Ajaka, during a media briefing in Akure following the conclusion of preliminary investigations by a joint team of state epidemiologists, public health experts, and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

According to the health ministry, tracking data established that the victims—who collapsed and died across settlements including Odigbo town, Newtown, Orita, and Araromi-Obu—had attended various traditional naming ceremonies and social gatherings where large quantities of the locally brewed herbal concoction were freely consumed.

Laboratory assays conducted on recovered bottles confirmed that the drinks were heavily laced with lethal levels of industrial methanol and unregulated chemical additives. Medical specialists explained that acute methanol poisoning rapidly triggers severe metabolic acidosis, respiratory failure, and irreversible loss of vision, accounting for the harrowing clinical symptoms observed among survivors.

Reacting to the findings, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa ordered an immediate, uncompromising clampdown on illicit distilleries across the state. A newly established enforcement task force comprising police operatives, civil defense officers, and health inspectors has already raided multiple production hideouts, sealing off local brewing spots and apprehending primary suspects linked to the supply chain.

Traditional rulers and community leaders in the Odigbo Kingdom have commended the government’s swift intervention, pledging to assist local authorities in flushing out unlicensed merchants who peddle dangerous substances under the guise of traditional hospitality. Meanwhile, public health campaigns have been intensified across rural and semi-urban markets, warning residents to steer clear of unsealed, locally packaged alcoholic mixtures.