The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a suspected producer of a herbal drink allegedly linked to the deaths of 29 people in Araromi-Obu and Odigbo communities in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state.
The suspect, identified as Oloruntoba Babatunde, also known as “Meko,” was arrested as the police commenced a comprehensive investigation into the reported deaths and hospitalisation of dozens of residents after consuming the herbal substance.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday, saying 14 other persons were also arrested for allegedly violating an order banning the sale and consumption of herbal drinks in the affected area.
According to the police, Babatunde is suspected to have been involved in producing substances suspected to contain methanol, while samples recovered from the suspect have been submitted for further investigation and forensic examination.
“The development follows the arrest of one Oloruntoba Babatunde, a.k.a. ‘Meko,’ who is suspected to be involved in the production of substances suspected to contain methanol and is currently assisting the police with investigations,” Jimoh said.
He said the recovered substances would undergo further examination to establish their composition and determine whether they were linked to the reported deaths.
The police spokesman said the command had also commenced investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths, while the bodies of the deceased were undergoing medical and forensic procedures.
Jimoh said the outcome of the post-mortem examinations was expected to provide medical evidence on the actual causes of the deaths.
The police said health officials had intensified medical interventions in the affected communities, with a significant number of residents taken to the Odigbo Local Government medical facility for assessment, testing and treatment.
The command said the 14 other suspects were arrested at different locations for allegedly selling or consuming herbal drinks despite the subsisting ban.
They were identified as Ayemobola Abayomi, Ebeyilo Oyekan, Fadeyi Folake, Febisola Solomon, Olamojiba Akinyosoye, Julius Ogeichi, Seyifunmi Aduke, Adesanmi Toyin, Oluwoye Amaka, Adeyayi Ojo, Adebayo Olaniyi, Raphael Emeka, Adenuga Oluwaseun and Adediwura Godwin.
The police said the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Akure for further investigation.
“The case has been transferred to the State CID, Akure, for discreet and comprehensive investigation. A team of detectives was also at Araromi-Obu on 12 September 2026 to advance investigative activities and gather further evidence,” Jimoh said.
The deaths were reported after residents of Araromi-Obu and Odigbo consumed the suspected herbal drinks, with about 60 others reportedly hospitalised.
The police said investigations and forensic examinations were ongoing to establish the exact cause of the deaths and determine the possible link between the recovered substances and the reported fatalities.
