Ondo police arrest suspected producer of k!ller herbal drinks

The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a suspect alleged to be involved in the production of substances suspected to contain methanol that have caused the sudden de@th of over 30 residents of Araromi-Obu and some other communities in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state.

The Public Relations Officer of Ondo State Police Command, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, made this disclosure in an official statement made available to journalists on Sunday evening.

Jimoh noted that the suspect is currently assisting the police with investigations, while substances suspected to be methanol were also recovered form him and have been subjected to further investigation and necessary forensic examination to establish their exact composition and determine any possible link to the reported deaths.

Jimoh disclosed that the bodies of the deceased are undergoing medical and forensic procedures, noting that the outcome is expected to provide further medical evidence regarding the actual cause of the de@ths.

According to him, men of the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) have also arrested 14 suspects, comprising alleged sellers and consumers of the drinks and concoctions at different locations in the area.

The police spokesperson revealed that the Commissioner of Police, Felix Ohagwu, has consequently directed sustained enforcement against the production, distribution and sale of unapproved, adulterated or otherwise dangerous alcoholic substances across the state.