Three dead after toxic traditional remedies in Nigeria
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Punch
Three people have died and 14 others have been hospitalised after consuming herbal preparations suspected of containing toxic substances in Oju, Benue State. Four patients are in critical condition and the alleged sellers have been arrested, according to the local government chairman cited by Punch.
At least three people have died and 14 others are hospitalised after consuming herbal preparations suspected of containing toxic substances in the Igede community, Oju, in Nigeria's Benue State. Four of the patients receiving treatment at Oju General Hospital are in critical condition, Punch reports.
The preparations were allegedly sold at the Ihiejwo market in Oju by three men identified as Alhaji Sule Mai Magani, Bello Mohamed and Musa Kala. Oju Local Government chairman Jackson Ominyi confirmed the incident on Friday and said the alleged sellers had been arrested and taken to the state police headquarters in Makurdi.
According to witness Ogbu, the first symptoms appeared on Monday 2 November among several residents who had consumed the products. The first death was recorded on Tuesday, the second on Wednesday and the third on Thursday. The incident follows poisoning in Ondo State in September that killed at least 48 people and affected 182 after they consumed a locally produced alcoholic drink contaminated with toxic industrial methanol.
