At least 24 people have reportedly died in Ondo State after consuming a suspected herbal concoction, prompting authorities to launch an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

The incident has raised concerns over the safety of unregulated herbal preparations being consumed in some communities, although authorities have yet to establish through laboratory testing that the substance consumed was responsible for all the reported deaths.

Reports said the victims consumed a herbal liquid substance before falling ill and subsequently dying. Details surrounding the identities of the victims, the exact location of the incident and the number of people who may have been affected are still emerging.

An investigation has commenced to determine what the victims consumed and whether contamination, poisoning or another medical condition was responsible for the deaths.

The investigation is expected to involve health officials and other relevant agencies, with samples of the suspected substance potentially subjected to laboratory analysis to establish its contents.

Until the investigation is concluded, it remains unclear whether the herbal preparation itself contained a toxic substance or whether another factor contributed to the deaths.

The development has renewed concerns about the consumption of herbal mixtures whose ingredients, preparation processes and safety levels may not have been independently verified.

Health authorities have repeatedly warned Nigerians against consuming unregistered or improperly labelled medicinal products and mixtures, particularly when their ingredients and dosage are unknown.

Herbal medicine remains widely used in Nigeria, with many people turning to traditional remedies for a range of health conditions.

However, health experts have warned that the fact that a product is described as “natural” does not automatically make it safe. Contamination, incorrect dosage, interactions with conventional medicines and the presence of toxic substances can create serious health risks.

The latest deaths in Ondo therefore underscore the importance of establishing the contents of the substance involved and determining whether it was legally produced, registered or distributed.

Authorities are expected to provide further information as the investigation progresses, including the identities of the victims, the number of people hospitalised, the symptoms reported and the results of any toxicology or laboratory tests.

For now, the reported death toll stands at 24, while the precise cause remains under investigation.

Officials and health authorities have also not established that every death was directly caused by consumption of the herbal substance.

Further findings from the investigation will be crucial in determining what happened and whether any individuals or organisations should face regulatory or criminal action.