At least four persons have allegedly died after consuming a suspected poisonous herbal mixture allegedly sold to residents of Oju Local Government Area of Benue State.
Our correspondent reports that as of Friday, several other victims are said to be receiving treatment in different hospitals, with some allegedly in critical condition following the incident.
The latest death was said to have occured on Thursday, following the arrival in Oju of the body of a third victim, who reportedly died while receiving treatment at a hospital in Makurdi.
Earlier reports had put the death toll at three.
Witnesses said that the incident began on Monday, November 2, when residents who purchased and consumed the herbal mixture from three male traders identified as Alhaji Sule Mai Magani, Bello Mohamed and Musa Kala during Ihiejwo market day started developing similar symptoms.
The witnesses also said that medical experts believed to come from the World Health Organisation (WHO) had arrived in the area to support the response to the outbreak.
Some of them who spoke to our correspondent on telephone, claimed that the three suspects were subsequently apprehended by the leadership of the Igede Youth Council in collaboration with the Oju Township Youth leadership and handed over to the police.
They said the suspects were later transferred to the Benue State Police Command in Makurdi for investigation.
The Chairman of Oju LGA, Jackson Ominyi, said he was yet to establish the exact number of casualties but confirmed that three persons had died as of Wednesday.
Ominyi said the local government had mobilised its security and health officials to manage the situation, adding that victims were receiving treatment at the General Hospital, Oju, while the health department was providing necessary support.
“I have tried to calm the situation down in my local government. The person selling the herbs has been arrested and sent to Makurdi three days back,” he said.
The chairman said he had directed relevant officials to continue attending to the victims while efforts were being made to establish the full extent of the tragedy.
Meanwhile, the President of the Igede Youth Council, Comrade Idoko John-Frank Ozzidi, had earlier called on the Benue State Government to ensure a thorough investigation and bring those responsible to justice.
Ozzidi said the youths deliberately resisted taking the law into their hands and handed the suspects over to the police, insisting that the circumstances surrounding the deaths must be fully investigated.
He also urged political officeholders from the area to follow up on the matter to ensure justice for the deceased and adequate attention for survivors.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Benue command, DSP Peter Aondongu, could not be reached on his telephone as of the time of filling this report.
