The agrarian community of Ipe-Akoko in Akoko South East Local Council of Ondo was thrown into mourning following the deaths of two middle-aged men who gave up the ghost after consuming herbal concoctions during a traditional festival of the community at the weekend.
The victims, Alex Ojulewa and Samuel Alonge, who arrived in the community from their base in Abuja to celebrate the age-grade traditional festival known as ‘Ibogbe’, were said to have consumed the concoction.
The concoction was allegedly prepared by an indigene of the community identified as Johnson Adu, who is currently in a coma battling for survival.
According to eyewitnesses, shortly after drinking the concoction, the two individuals began experiencing severe vomiting and rapidly deteriorated in health.
One of the witnesses, who gave his name as Tunji, stated that despite efforts to rush them to the nearest hospital, their condition worsened, leading to their deaths before medical assistance could be administered.
He said: “Alex and Samuel came home to participate in the festival. As usual, while they were celebrating the festival, they decided to drink an herbal concoction.
“It was after they drank it that they started feeling uneasy. Before we could realise what was happening, they began to vomit and later became unconscious.
“They were quickly rushed to the hospital in the community, but they died before they got to the hospital.”
Police spokesperson in Ondo State Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, who confirmed the incident, stated that an investigation had begun.
She said: “A chief came and reported at Isua police station that someone prepared a native concoction (Agbo), which he drank with two others, and thereafter the trio started vomitting.
“While on their way to the hospital, the duo of Ojulewa Alex and Alonge Samuel gave up the ghost while Adu Johnson was in a coma receiving medical treatment. The investigation is ongoing.”
