A 32-year old survivor, Sola Adebayo, has recounted his harrowing experience after consuming a locally prepared herbal alcoholic mixture popularly known as ‘Monkey Tail’ in Ore, headquarters of Odigbo Local Government area of Ondo State.
THE HOPE had earlier reported that no fewer than 30 people were reported dead, while more than 50 others were hospitalised, following the consumption of the herbal mixture in some communities in Odigbo Local Government area.
Sola, who described himself as a regular consumer of the substance, said his ordeal began last Monday after he took the herbal mixture with five of his friends.
According to him, he had been consuming the substance for some time and did not consider it dangerous until he suddenly began experiencing disturbing symptoms after taking it.
Recounting his ordeal, Adebayo said he initially noticed that his vision had become impaired and immediately informed his sister, who subsequently ensured that he received medical attention.
He said, “Last Monday, I took Monkey Tail, which was bought in Ore, with five of my casual friends. I have been taking the substance for a while, not occasionally.
“On that day, we took two shots and playfully rejoiced. After taking it, I noticed that I could not see properly the following day, so I notified my sister and I was hospitalised immediately.”
The survivor said the situation frightened him and made him realise the possible dangers associated with his drinking habit.
Expressing regrets over the incident, Sola said he blamed himself for consuming the substance, adding that the experience had changed his attitude towards drinking.
He said, “I blame myself for drinking, and I regret all my actions. I am alive by God’s grace, and I will continually glorify His name.”
Adebayo said that despite receiving medical attention, his vision had yet to return to normal, adding that he could currently see only limited details.
“Currently, I cannot see correctly. I can only see little things,” he said.
The survivor, who expressed hope for full recovery, vowed to abandon his drinking habit if his sight was restored.
He said the experience had served as a major warning to him and promised to stay away from such substances if given another opportunity to live normally.
“I have promised that I will not go back to my drinking ways if I have the opportunity to see correctly again,” he said.
Adebayo also expressed appreciation to the hospital and medical personnel who attended to him, saying their intervention came at a critical moment in his ordeal.
He thanked the medical workers for coming to his aid when it mattered most and expressed hope that he would eventually make a full recovery.
His account comes amid growing concern in Odigbo and surrounding communities following reports of multiple deaths and illnesses allegedly linked to the consumption of locally prepared alcoholic and herbal mixtures.
Speaking with our correspondent, the attending physician, Dr Anthony Fasua, said the hospital had recorded five fatalities and two survivors among the patients brought in following suspected alcohol poisoning.
He said one of the survivors had been discharged, while the other was still receiving medical attention and was in stable condition.
According to Fasua, Adebayo was brought to the hospital unconscious after allegedly suffering from alcohol poisoning but was resuscitated and subsequently stabilised.
The doctor said medical personnel had attempted to get some of the affected persons to disclose where they purchased the mixture, but they had not been forthcoming with the information.
He said, “After running a test on the patients, we noticed that they had underlying ailments before taking the substance, so taking the substance made the matter worse.”
Fasua said the suspected poisoning could produce severe symptoms, including visual impairment, incoherent speech and dizziness and could progress to more serious complications if urgent medical attention was not provided.
He explained that affected patients could develop neurological symptoms shortly after consuming the substance, while severe cases could result in circulatory collapse and loss of consciousness.
He, however, advised residents of Ore and its environs to avoid consuming unverified locally prepared alcoholic or herbal mixtures and to seek immediate medical attention if they develop unusual symptoms after consuming any substance.
Meanwhile, the Ondo State Government has advised residents of affected communities in Odigbo Local Government area to immediately seek medical attention if they develop blurred or disturbed vision, breathing difficulties, chest pain, sudden weakness, confusion or loss of consciousness, particularly after consuming an alcoholic substance, following a suspected toxic alcohol outbreak that has killed 29 people.
The government said 60 suspected cases had been recorded as of September 11, 2026, with three patients currently receiving treatment and another 27 under observation.
The figures represent a provisional case fatality ratio of 48.3 per cent, underscoring the severity of the unexplained illness that has affected communities in Odigbo Ward and surrounding areas of the affected local government.
In a press briefing on Friday, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Awolowo Ajaka, said the majority of those affected, about 95 per cent, were males aged between 16 and 25 years.
The cases, he noted, had principally been identified in New Town, Odole, Okele and Orita Odigbo in Odigbo Ward, with additional suspected cases reported in Araromi Obu, Ogoni and Oniparaga.
He stated that the government first became aware of the outbreak after receiving reports of sudden deaths in New Town on September 3, adding that subsequent investigations uncovered additional deaths in neighbouring settlements.
He explained that a second cluster was later identified in Araromi Obu, where eight people were reportedly said to have died after consuming an alcoholic substance at a naming ceremony.
He revealed that affected persons presented with symptoms including headache, generalised body pain, weakness, visual disturbances, difficulty breathing and altered consciousness, with some deteriorating rapidly and dying.
He stated that the pattern of illness and reported exposure to alcoholic substances had raised a strong epidemiological suspicion that the victims may have been exposed to a toxic substance in alcohol.
He stressed that there was no laboratory confirmation yet of the specific substance responsible for the deaths.
“All cases remain classified as suspected cases until the specific toxic agent responsible is identified,” he said, adding that investigation was ongoing.
The commissioner revealed that the State Rapid Response Team had collected 36 biological specimens, including blood and urine samples, for laboratory analysis, stating that samples of suspected alcoholic substances recovered from affected communities had also been secured and submitted for toxicological examination.
According to him, the investigations were being conducted in collaboration with relevant regulatory authorities, including NAFDAC, adding that the laboratory and toxicological results would be crucial in identifying the suspected toxic agent and determining the final classification of the cases.
While speaking further, he said the government had activated a coordinated emergency response led by the Ministry of Health, involving local government authorities, traditional institutions, security agencies and regulatory bodies.
He added that the response included active and retrospective case finding, epidemiological investigations, line listing, verbal autopsies, clinical management and referral of surviving patients, collection of biological and environmental samples, community sensitisation and the distribution of essential health commodities to affected facilities.
The commissioner, who said that the government had also closed suspected alcoholic outlets linked to the incident, explained that the Nigerian Police Force, Department of State Services, NAFDAC, other regulatory agencies and the World Health Organisation were supporting the investigation.
He added that several people suspected of distributing the implicated substances had reportedly been taken into custody.
According to him, anyone found to have deliberately produced, adulterated or distributed harmful substances would be held accountable in accordance with the law, while stressing that the investigation would follow due process.
As a precautionary measure, he revealed that the government had imposed a temporary ban on the local production and sale of locally brewed alcoholic and alcoholic herbal beverages in the affected local government area.
He called on residents to report anyone suspected of producing or openly selling such products to the nearest police station.
He further advised residents not to wait for symptoms to become severe before seeking medical assistance and specifically warned against attempting to treat suspected cases at home or relying on traditional remedies or unverified medications.
He stated that prompt presentation at a medical facility would give health workers the best opportunity to provide supportive treatment and make referrals where necessary.
He urged families and community leaders to report unusual illnesses and sudden deaths promptly to health authorities to enable surveillance teams to investigate without delay.
He appealed to residents to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information, photographs or names of alleged victims and suspects on social media.
He also urged the media to distinguish between confirmed findings, epidemiological suspicions and issues still under investigation.
While stressing that the evidence currently pointed towards possible toxic exposure associated with an alcoholic substance, he said laboratory confirmation was still pending.
He assured residents of the government’s commitment to working with national and international partners to identify the toxic agent, protect exposed residents, treat affected persons and prevent further deaths.
He also pledged to release verified findings as soon as they became available.
He urged the people to cooperate with health and security authorities, adding that they should avoid suspected alcoholic products from unlicensed sources, report suspicious products or unusual illnesses promptly, and seek immediate medical care when the warning symptoms appear.
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