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Suspected methanol poisoning kills at least 48 people in southern Nigeria

Authorities detain 15 people in Ondo state as roughly 100 others receive medical treatment.

Updated Sep 18, 2026 · 19:12 UTC2 reports

The short version

  • At least 48 people have died and about 100 are being treated in southern Nigeria after consuming a locally produced beverage suspected to contain methanol.[ABC News · The Guardian]
  • Health authorities report that a total of 182 people are believed to have been affected across the Odigbo and Irele areas of Ondo state.[ABC News · The Guardian]
  • Police have arrested 15 people in connection with the poisonings, including an individual suspected of manufacturing drinks containing methanol.[ABC News · The Guardian]
  • Amid the outbreak, Nigeria's food and drug agency is enforcing a nationwide ban on alcoholic drinks sold in sachets and small plastic bottles.[The Guardian]

Key facts

  • At least 48 individuals have died and about 100 others are receiving medical care after drinking a concoction suspected to contain methanol in Ondo state.[ABC News · The Guardian]
  • The illnesses and fatalities occurred in the Odigbo and Irele local government areas, with health officials estimating 182 total individuals have been affected.[ABC News · The Guardian]
  • Ondo state police arrested 15 people, including one individual suspected of producing drinks containing methanol.[ABC News · The Guardian]
  • Nigeria's National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control is enforcing a ban on alcohol sold in sachets and small plastic bottles.[The Guardian]

What remains uncertain

  • Whether the illicit drink was an adulterated version of the popular herbal alcoholic beverage known as Monkey Tail remains unverified by authorities.[The Guardian]
  • The exact timing of the contamination outbreak is not fully established, though local media reported the earliest death occurred nearly two weeks before official statements.[The Guardian]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.