NOA Warns Ondo Residents Against Unregulated Alcohol, Hard Drugs After Odigbo Deaths
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Ondo State has raised the alarm over the dangers of consuming unregulated alcoholic drinks, herbal concoctions and illicit drugs, following the deaths of 32 persons in connection with a suspected substance-related outbreak in Odigbo Local Government Area.
The Agency, in a statement issued in Akure on Monday by its State Director, Mrs Bola Oguntuase, said 32 deaths had been confirmed from 102 suspected cases, while investigations were still ongoing to establish the exact cause of the illnesses and deaths.
Oguntuase described the development as a grave public health concern and urged residents to avoid alcoholic beverages, herbal preparations and other substances whose ingredients, sources and safety standards could not be verified.
She specifically cautioned against locally prepared alcoholic drinks popularly known as “Monkey Tail” and similar concoctions, following concerns raised in the wake of the Odigbo incident.
The warning followed a management meeting of the NOA Ondo State Directorate, where the incident was reviewed and plans were made to intensify public enlightenment on the dangers of consuming unregulated substances.
According to the State Director, products should not be considered safe simply because they are described as herbal, traditional or locally produced, noting that substances prepared or sold outside regulatory controls could contain harmful ingredients capable of causing serious illness or death.
She appealed to traditional rulers, religious leaders, community leaders, parents, youth organisations and other stakeholders to help reinforce the message of caution in their communities.
Oguntuase also commended the Ondo State Government for its prompt response to the incident, noting that relevant health and regulatory authorities had been activated, investigations commenced and samples collected for laboratory and toxicological analysis.
The State Government had subsequently announced measures restricting the production and sale of locally brewed alcoholic and alcoholic herbal beverages in the affected area, while directing stronger enforcement against unverified alcoholic drinks and dangerous substances across the state.
The NOA, however, urged the public to desist from spreading unverified claims about the cause of the deaths, stressing that no particular substance should be blamed until investigations by competent authorities are concluded.
Beyond the Odigbo incident, Oguntuase expressed concern over the increasing exposure of young people to hard drugs, illicit substances and other psychoactive substances.
She warned that substance abuse could destroy lives, destabilise families and pose a serious threat to the future of society.
The State Director called on residents to report suspected manufacturers, distributors and sellers of unregulated alcoholic drinks, herbal concoctions and illicit substances to relevant government agencies and security authorities.
She stressed that protecting lives was a collective responsibility, urging citizens to make informed decisions about what they consume and avoid patronising businesses that put human lives at risk.
The NOA Ondo State Directorate reaffirmed its readiness to work with the Ondo State Government, Ministry of Health, regulatory agencies, security organisations, traditional institutions, religious bodies and community-based organisations to strengthen public sensitisation on substance abuse, consumer safety and healthy living.
Oguntuase urged residents to regard the Odigbo tragedy as a warning and a call for collective action, stressing that the preservation of human life must remain paramount in decisions concerning the production, sale and consumption of alcoholic, herbal and other psychoactive substances
