The Ondo State Police Command has arrested Oloruntoba Babatunde, popularly known as “Meko,” for his alleged involvement in producing a lethal herbal concoction that resulted in 30 deaths and left over 50 people hospitalised across Odigbo Local Government Area.
The underlying police enforcement operations and arrests occurred during the weekend leading up to Sunday, September 13, 2026 (with ongoing field operations extending through Monday, September 14, 2026).
​The fatalities were first reported on Saturday, September 5, 2026, across the Araromi-Obu, Newtown, Orita, and Odigbo communities. Affected residents were rushed to the Odigbo Local Government medical facility after experiencing severe reactions to the toxic mixture, commonly sold as a local herbal alcoholic drink known as “Monkey Tail.”
​The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the command, DSP Jimoh Abayomi, confirmed the arrest in a statement issued in Akure. Police operatives recovered substances suspected to contain high levels of methanol from Babatunde, which have been sent for forensic examination to establish their exact chemical composition.
​The command also arrested 14 other individuals during enforcement operations conducted under the Liquor Act across Ore and Odigbo. State authorities had previously issued a ban on the sale and distribution of unverified, unlabelled, and sachet alcoholic drinks.
​The Ondo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Idowu Ajanaku, confirmed that the government’s order covers all unverified herbal mixtures and sachet drinks to prevent further loss of life.
​According to DSP Jimoh Abayomi, the 14 suspects held for violating the ban and selling or consuming the prohibited concoctions are:- Ayemobola Abayomi, Ebeyilo Oyekan, Fadeyi Folake, Febisola Solomon, Olamojiba Akinyosoye, Julius Ogeichi, Seyifunmi Aduke, Adesanmi Toyin, Oluwoye Amaka, Adeyayi Ojo, Adebayo Olaniyi, Raphael Emeka, Adenuga Oluwaseun and Adediwura Godwin.
​The Ondo State Commissioner of Police, CP Felix Ohagwu, directed a team of detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Akure to conduct a comprehensive probe into the source, production, and distribution channels of the toxic drink. Detectives visited Araromi-Obu to gather additional evidence, while post-mortem examinations are underway to confirm the precise causes of death.
​CP Ohagwu urged the public to refrain from consuming unlabelled or locally mixed herbal concoctions and to report illegal production sites to law enforcement. All 14 suspects remain in custody at the State CID in Akure and will face prosecution upon the completion of investigations.
