At least 49 people have died and around 100 others are receiving hospital treatment in southern Nigeria after consuming a locally brewed alcoholic drink suspected to contain methanol. Health authorities in Ondo State — a predominantly rural state in Nigeria's southwest — say approximately 182 people have been affected, with cases concentrated in the Odigbo and Irele local government areas. Fifteen people have been arrested in connection with the incident, including one individual allegedly involved in producing the contaminated substance.

Locals and survivors say the drink believed to be responsible is known as "Monkey Tail," a popular herbal alcoholic concoction with high alcohol content. One trader familiar with the drink, speaking anonymously for fear of arrest, said there are two versions: an original, legitimate formula and an unsafe variant suspected to have been adulterated with methanol. Authorities have not yet formally confirmed the drink as the source, and investigations are continuing. Local media reports suggest the first death occurred nearly two weeks ago.

Survivors describe rapid and severe symptoms. "I took like two shots and I went out on Friday. On Saturday, I noticed that I could not see," said 32-year-old Sola Adebayo, speaking from a hospital bed. Another survivor, Gbenga Oluwaseun, recalled waking in the night with a racing heartbeat before losing consciousness. Ondo State's health commissioner, Banji Ajaka, warned that methanol causes swift, serious organ damage: "Once they consume, depending on the quantity, the kidneys will pack up, the eyes will go, the brain will be damaged."

Doctors treating patients note that many of those most severely affected are between 30 and 40 years old and had pre-existing health conditions such as hepatitis B or underlying organ dysfunction, which may have worsened their outcomes. Locally produced alcohol is widely consumed across Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, particularly in rural areas where it is significantly cheaper and far less regulated than commercial brands.

The outbreak has prompted regulatory action at the national level. Nigeria's National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control is enforcing a nationwide ban on alcohol sold in sachets and small plastic containers, which authorities say are disproportionately accessible to children and young people. The crisis underscores the persistent public health risks posed by unregulated alcohol production, a challenge shared by many countries across sub-Saharan Africa.