At least three people have reportedly died and 14 others hospitalised after consuming herbal mixtures suspected to contain poisonous substances in the Igede community of Oju Local Government Area, Benue State.
Four of the 14 people receiving treatment at the General Hospital in Oju are said to be in critical condition.
The incident reportedly followed the sale of the herbal preparations by three men during the Ihiejwo market day in Oju Township last weekend.
An eyewitness identified only as Ogbu told THE PUNCH that residents began developing similar symptoms on Monday, November 2, after consuming the mixtures they had purchased.
He said the first victim died on Tuesday morning, the second in the early hours of Wednesday, while a third person died on Thursday.
The Chairman of Oju Local Government Area, Jackson Ominyi, confirmed the incident on Friday, although he said he was yet to establish the exact number of deaths. He put the reported death toll at three as of Thursday.
Ominyi said 14 other people were receiving treatment at the General Hospital in Oju and that the suspected sellers had been arrested and taken to the Benue State Police Command headquarters in Makurdi.
He added that the local government was making efforts to ensure that those receiving treatment were properly cared for.
The three men were identified by the eyewitness as Alhaji Sule Mai Magani, Bello Mohamed and Musa Kala.
The police had yet to officially confirm the incident as of the time of the report. Efforts to reach the state police command spokesperson, DSP Peter Aondongu, for comments were unsuccessful.
The incident comes about two months after a similar suspected poisoning outbreak in Ondo State, where at least 48 people died and 182 others were affected after consuming a locally brewed herbal alcoholic drink contaminated with toxic industrial methanol.
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