On September 17, 2026, health officials in Ondo state confirmed that a locally produced alcoholic beverage suspected of containing methanol has caused a severe public-health emergency in southern Nigeria.
The outbreak is centered in the Odigbo and Irele local government areas, where a total of 182 people are believed to have been affected. At least 48 deaths have been recorded and roughly 100 individuals remain under treatment in hospitals across the region. The incident has quickly become the deadliest case of illicit-alcohol poisoning recorded in the country in recent years.
Victims’ experience and medical consequences
One of the survivors, 32-year-old Sola Adebayo recounted his ordeal to a local TV channel. “I took like two shots and I went out on Friday. On Saturday, I noticed that I could not see” he said from a hospital bed, describing the rapid loss of vision that followed ingestion. Medical staff have reported that victims suffer from sudden kidney failure, retinal damage and, in severe cases, brain injury – symptoms consistent with acute methanol poisoning.
Official response and investigation
Health Commissioner Banji Ajaka warned that the toxic effects appear within hours, stating, “This thing happened rapidly. Once they consume, depending on the quantity, the kidneys will pack up, the eyes will go, the brain will be damaged.” The commissioner emphasized that the drink’s high alcohol content, coupled with the suspected addition of methanol, creates a lethal combination.
Arrests and legal action
Police spokesman Abayomi Jimoh announced that 15 people have been detained in connection with the incident, including an individual alleged to have been involved in producing the methanol-tainted mixture. Authorities are continuing investigations to trace the supply chain and determine how the contaminant entered the popular herbal brew known locally as “Monkey Tail.”
Regulatory measures
In parallel with the criminal probe, Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has intensified enforcement of a nationwide ban on alcohol sold in sachets and small plastic containers. The agency argues that such packaging is easily accessible to children and young people, and the current crisis underscores the risks of unregulated, inexpensive alcohol in rural communities.
Consumption of home-brewed spirits is a long-standing practice in many parts of Nigeria, especially where commercial beverages are unaffordable. The tragedy highlights the urgent need for stronger monitoring, public awareness campaigns, and rapid medical response to prevent future methanol poisoning outbreaks.
