The Ondo State Government has launched an investigation into the deaths of over 24 persons in the Odigbo Local Government Area due to suspected poisoning from locally brewed alcoholic substance.

The deaths which occurred over the weekend in Odigbo and Araromi-Obu communities, have thrown residents into mourning.

Investigation revealed that over 24 persons, mostly youths, died in the two communities from suspected poisoning linked to the consumption of locally brewed alcoholic drinks.

Several other victims are currently receiving treatment in hospitals, with medical personnel working to stabilise them.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Ajaka, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview, saying the government had launched an urgent and comprehensive investigation.

“We’re right now in the field with officials of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control(NAFDAC), World Health Organisation (WHO) and other relevant agencies.

“We want to conduct a thorough investigation to know the cause. From our preliminary report, it is allegedly an injection of alcoholic substance.

“I cannot give the exact figure of the deaths now. Some of the deaths were buried immediately. Some are in the mortuary, while some of the victims are still on admission in hospitals.

“The incident affected Odigbo and Araromi-Obu communities,” the commissioner said.

Ajaka cautioned against speculations, stressing that it would be premature to attribute the deaths to any particular substance until laboratory analyses and medical investigations were concluded. (NAN)

By David Torough, Abuja

Troops of the Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have arrested two suspected terrorist logistics suppliers and recovered a large consignment of motorcycle spare parts allegedly destined for Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters operating in the Yunusari-Mobbar axis of Yobe State.

The suspects were arrested on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, following credible intelligence on the movement of logistics supplies believed to be intended for terrorist elements in the area.

According to a statement by the Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Capt.

Mohammed Goni, troops of 159 Battalion under Sector 2 OPHK, working with other security personnel, mobilised a fighting patrol and intercepted the consignment at Gumsa Bridge in Geidam Local Government Area.

The recovered items included large quantities of motorcycle tyres, crankshafts, oil seals, traffic indicators, acceleration and clutch cables, bearings, brake components, gaskets, piston kits, chains and sprockets, speedometers, clutch plates, rocker arms, CDI units, coils, rectifiers and fuel-related components, among other spare parts.

Security forces also recovered 145 pairs of footwear and two Tecno Android phones, among other items.

The suspects and recovered materials have been handed over to the 27 Military Intelligence Regiment for further investigation and necessary action.

The military said the interception was part of ongoing efforts to disrupt terrorist logistics networks and prevent Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters from accessing supplies needed to sustain their operations.

Operation HADIN KAI urged members of the public to continue providing credible and timely information to security agencies to support counter-terrorism operations across the North East.

The Director-General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr. Jide Idris, has urged Nigerians to begin preparations against Lassa fever before infections rise during the approaching dry season.

Idris gave the advice in Abuja on Wednesday at a news conference, emphasising that early action by government, health workers, communities and households was essential to reducing infections and preventing avoidable deaths.

He said Lassa fever occurred throughout the year, but cases tended to increase during the dry season, particularly between November and April, making early preparedness crucial to controlling transmission.

According to him, the period before the seasonal peak provided an important opportunity to strengthen prevention measures, improve preparedness and ensure health facilities can respond effectively.

He said lessons from the 2026 Lassa fever response showed that several challenges needed urgent attention before transmission increased, particularly delays in seeking care and healthcare worker infections.

Idris said persistent environmental and household risks, including poor sanitation, unsafe food storage and exposure to rodents, continued to contribute significantly to Lassa fever transmission.

He also identified limited state ownership, over-reliance on national resources and delays in releasing funds required for preparedness activities as major challenges affecting effective response efforts.

The NCDC boss said there was also a gap between healthcare capacity available on paper and what was actually functional when facilities were needed to manage Lassa fever patients.

According to him, dialysis machines provided to some high-burden states were not always being used for Lassa fever patients, with some facilities deploying them for other medical conditions.

He said the experience reinforced the need to strengthen the entire healthcare pathway, from prevention and early detection through diagnosis, referral and treatment.

Idris said the agency’s accelerated readiness plan would focus on actions required between now and the expected peak of Lassa fever transmission across the country.

He said one priority was to detect cases earlier, ensure suspected infections were reported promptly and address laboratory requirements needed for effective diagnosis and response.

According to him, environmental health officers, agriculture officials and livestock personnel had important roles to play in preventing and controlling Lassa fever transmission.

He urged healthcare providers to recognise suspected Lassa fever cases early, protect themselves from infection, report cases promptly and ensure patients were appropriately referred for further management.

Idris added that healthcare workers should take appropriate precautions from the first point of contact.

Idris urged states to investigate every healthcare worker infection, follow up exposed workers and promptly address gaps identified during investigations to prevent further transmission within health facilities.

He called on healthcare workers to remember the message, “Think Lassa, protect, report and refer,” while maintaining a high index of suspicion when managing patients with compatible symptoms.

According to him, research is also needed to understand changing patterns in Lassa fever transmission, including the possible involvement of rodents other than Mastomys natalensis.

He said genomic sequencing capabilities were being used to better understand the virus and determine whether different strains contributed to observed epidemiological patterns across affected areas.

Idris said the agency would continue supporting research into candidate Lassa fever vaccines and rapid diagnostic tests to improve early detection, treatment and outbreak response.

For households, he urged Nigerians to protect food by storing rice, gari, beans, maize and other food items in properly covered containers inaccessible to rodents at all times.

He advised residents to block openings through which rodents could enter homes, reduce clutter and eliminate conditions that provided rodents with hiding places or attract them.

Idris also urged Nigerians to keep homes, markets and other surroundings clean, dispose of refuse properly and avoid direct contact with rodents, their urine, faeces and body fluids.

He advised people who developed fever or felt unwell, particularly those living in or travelling from areas where Lassa fever occurred, to seek appropriate medical care promptly.

The agency boss warned against prolonged self-treatment for presumed malaria, stressing that persistent symptoms required medical evaluation because not every fever was caused by malaria.

He further called on state and local governments to strengthen environmental sanitation, waste management, surveillance, laboratory referral pathways and treatment facilities before Lassa fever cases increased.

Also speaking, Sanitarian Collins, Assistant Chief Scientific Officer, Ministry of Environment, said the ministry was collaborating with NCDC to prevent Lassa fever through improved sanitation and rodent control.

Collins urged Nigerians to clear surrounding bushes, maintain clean environments and adopt preventive measures before the peak transmission period to reduce conditions that encouraged rodents to thrive.

According to him, prevention was more effective and less costly than waiting until cases increased, emphasising that late presentation often meant patients arrived at treatment centres with serious complications.(NAN)