At least 48 people die in Nigeria’s Ondo state after consuming a locally brewed alcoholic drink suspected to contain methanol, a highly toxic form of alcohol. Health officials say about 100 others are being treated. The incidents are reported in multiple local government areas, with authorities describing rapid onset of severe illness in some victims.
Local officials and media identify the drink as a herbal-style liquor sold under names such as “Monkey Tail” or “Monkey Shoulder,” which is widely consumed despite varying reports about a safer and an unsafe version. The poisonings are linked to the recent sale of the mixture in Ondo, and investigations continue to determine the source and how methanol was introduced.
Police in Ondo announce arrests connected to the case, with reports stating 15 people are detained, including individuals allegedly involved in producing or distributing substances suspected to contain methanol. Some outlets also report earlier stages of the emergency, including a smaller initial death toll and an expanding count of affected people as additional victims are identified. Nigeria’s food and drug regulator is involved in enforcement related to alcohol products.
