Benue – Four of the victims are said to be in critical condition at the General Hospital, Oju, while police are yet to confirm the incident.
At least three people have reportedly died and 14 others have been hospitalised after allegedly consuming herbal mixtures suspected to contain poisonous substances in the Igede community, Oju Local Government Area of Benue State.
Victims in critical condition
Four of the 14 people receiving treatment at the General Hospital, Oju, are said to be in critical condition. The police had yet to confirm the incident at the time of filing this report.
How it happened
The incident reportedly occurred after three men, believed to be hawking the mixtures, sold them to residents during the Ihiejwo market day in Oju Township last weekend.
An eyewitness, who identified himself simply as Ogbu, named the men as Alhaji Sule Mai Magani, Bello Mohamed and Musa Kala. The claim has not been independently verified.
He said residents who bought and consumed the preparations began developing similar symptoms on Monday, November 2, throwing the community into panic. One victim died on Tuesday morning, a second in the early hours of Wednesday and a third on Thursday, he said.
Suspected sellers arrested
Chairman of Oju Local Government Area, Jackson Ominyi, confirmed the incident when contacted on Friday. He said the suspected sellers had been arrested and taken to the state police command headquarters in Makurdi.
“I have not got the exact number of those who died yet, but the number so far is three as of Thursday,” he said, adding that several others were receiving treatment and that the council was doing everything possible to ensure they were well cared for.
Efforts to reach the police spokesperson in Benue, DSP Peter Aondongu, were unsuccessful, as his phone did not go through and he did not respond to a text message.
Similar tragedy in Ondo
The incident follows a similar tragedy in Ondo State in September 2026, when at least 48 people died and 182 others were affected after drinking a locally brewed herbal alcoholic drink contaminated with toxic industrial methanol. It was reported in communities in Odigbo Local Government Area, including Araromi-Obu and Odigbo town.
