Methanol-laced alcohol kills 48 in Ondo, poisons 180, leads to 15 arrests
No fewer than 48 people have died in Ondo State, south-west Nigeria, after drinking locally brewed alcohol contaminated with methanol. Around 180 others are seriously ill, with hospitals in Odigbo and Irele local government areas handling the bulk of the poisonings.
Ondo methanol outbreak: a fast-moving public health emergency
The deaths and hospital admissions followed the consumption of illicit gin and other artisanal spirits sold outside regulated supply chains. Medical teams and toxicology tests later confirmed that several seized batches contained dangerously high levels of methanol, an industrial alcohol used as a solvent and fuel rather than a drink.
Survivors being treated in hospital have developed complications that doctors describe as irreversible. These include permanent blindness and acute kidney failure, adding a long-term health burden to the immediate loss of life.
Monkey Tail and other bootleg drinks at the centre of the probe
Among the products identified in the investigation is a popular local mixture known as “Monkey Tail.” Tests showed that the drink, along with other unregistered liquors, had been cut with methanol to boost volume or potency. Because methanol is colourless and smells similar to ordinary alcohol, consumers cannot detect it before drinking. Even small amounts can attack the optic nerve and kidneys, and larger doses are often fatal.
Fifteen arrests as police and regulators move against illegal distilleries
Ondo State police have arrested at least 15 suspects believed to have played roles in producing, adulterating or distributing the tainted drinks. The operations target a shadowy network of back-room distilleries and informal sellers that operate with little oversight. Regulators have also stepped up market sweeps, confiscating suspect stock and shutting down unlicensed production sites.
NAFDAC and Ondo health officials warn against unregulated alcohol
NAFDAC and the Ondo State Ministry of Health have renewed a direct appeal to residents: avoid any artisanal or home-made alcoholic drink that is not sold through approved distribution channels. The agencies say the safest choice is to buy only from licensed retailers and to report suspicious products to the authorities.
Why bootleg liquor remains a recurring danger across West Africa
This tragedy is the latest reminder of a wider problem. In many parts of West Africa, cheap illicit spirits are popular because they cost far less than legally produced brands. The informal trade is difficult to police, and when producers use industrial methanol instead of food-grade ethanol, the result can be a mass poisoning event. Without stronger enforcement and better consumer awareness, health officials warn, similar outbreaks are likely to continue.
