At least 48 people have died and nearly 180 others have been hospitalized after drinking bootleg alcohol mixed with methanol in Nigeria’s Ondo state. The deaths have been concentrated in the Odigbo and Irele local government areas, according to health authorities and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
What health officials found in the seized drinks
Toxicology tests on confiscated batches of locally brewed beverages detected dangerously high levels of methanol. One of the most widely consumed products, known locally as “Monkey Tail,” was among the contaminated lots. Methanol is an industrial alcohol typically used as a solvent or fuel, and it is highly toxic to humans even in small quantities.
Survivors face lasting damage
Dozens of patients who survived the poisoning are now dealing with irreversible complications. These include permanent blindness and acute kidney failure, adding a long-term health burden to the immediate death toll.
Police arrest 15 suspects in crackdown
The Ondo state police command has arrested at least 15 people suspected of involvement in the illegal production, adulteration, and distribution of the tainted liquor. Regulators have also stepped up raids on local markets and informal sales points, seizing suspicious stock and shutting down unlicensed distilleries.
Authorities urge the public to stay away from unregulated alcohol
NAFDAC and the Ondo state Ministry of Health have issued an urgent warning, telling residents to avoid any locally brewed or informally sold alcoholic drinks that fall outside approved distribution channels. The agencies stressed that only products from licensed sellers should be considered safe.
Why this keeps happening in West Africa
This latest tragedy highlights the persistent dangers of the informal trade in cheap, adulterated liquor. Across several parts of West Africa, bootleg alcohol remains popular because it is affordable, but it often contains toxic industrial chemicals that can kill or disable consumers.
