Toxic alcohol kills at least 48 and blinds five in Nigeria's Ondo State

Outbreak in south-western Nigeria

A severe public health crisis has unfolded in south-western Nigeria, where a wave of toxic alcohol poisonings claimed dozens of lives across Ondo State over recent weeks. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) announced on Saturday, 19 September 2026, that 48 people died after consuming the adulterated alcoholic mixture. The agency reported that 182 other individuals suffered severe poisoning after drinking the same contaminated product. A separate report from France 24 reported that at least 49 people died and 100 others were injured in the state. The casualties were concentrated across three distinct administrative districts in Ondo State, where medical services and national health authorities responded to the emerging poisoning cases.

Unregulated artisanal drinks

Investigators traced the source of the fatal intoxications to an artisanal, unregulated alcoholic drink sold in local communities. The beverage is widely known across the region under the colloquial name Monkey Tail, documented in international and regional reports as "Coadă de maimuță" and "Queue du singe". Local authorities cited by France 24 also referred to the contaminated substance as Monkey Shoulder, identifying it as a locally brewed herbal drink with high alcohol content. Victims in the three affected districts bought and consumed the counterfeit spirit from local sellers. The widespread distribution of the homemade brew across these three districts in south-western Nigeria led to a rapid escalation in illnesses and fatalities.

Methanol contamination and blindness

Laboratory analyses conducted by NAFDAC on recovered samples revealed dangerous concentrations of industrial chemicals inside the beverage. Technicians confirmed that the drink contained high concentrations of methanol, combined with cannabis, also catalogued in laboratory reports as Indian hemp. Methanol is a toxic industrial chemical typically used in commercial solvent applications and automotive antifreeze formulations. When ingested by humans, methanol causes acute poisoning, severe vision disorders, permanent blindness, and death. Medical assessments confirmed that five victims in Ondo State suffered complete blindness after drinking the contaminated liquid, while two additional people suffered partial loss of sight.

Law enforcement arrests and ongoing inquiries

Following the surge in deaths and injuries, Nigerian law enforcement agencies and health regulators launched coordinated operations to halt the distribution of the toxic mixture. Ondo State police and NAFDAC confirmed the arrest of 15 suspects involved in the manufacturing, blending, and retail distribution of the counterfeit beverage. Authorities stated that comprehensive investigations remain ongoing to dismantle the illicit production chain and identify all distribution outlets across the three affected districts. Public health officials and state police continue monitoring markets in Ondo State to ensure that no remaining stocks of the methanol-laced artisanal brew remain in circulation.