Four die, 14 hospitalised after consuming suspected toxic natural combination in Benue

At least 4 folks have reportedly misplaced their lives, whereas 14 others have been hospitalised after allegedly consuming a toxic natural concoction purchased in Oju township, headquarters of Oju Local Government Area of Benue State.

The natural merchandise have been reportedly offered to members of the Igede neighborhood by three males recognized as Alhaji Mai Magamani, Mohamed and Musa Kolo through the Ihiejwo market day in Oju final weekend.

An eyewitness disclosed that the incident grew to become recognized on Monday, November 2, 2026, when a number of individuals who had bought and consumed the natural preparations started experiencing comparable well being issues.

According to the eyewitness, no less than 14 different folks have been receiving medical consideration, with some stated to be in crucial situation.

Following the incident, the three suspected natural medication sellers have been reportedly arrested by the Igede Youth Council, working alongside the Oju Local Government Township Youth management, earlier than being handed over to the police.

The Oju Divisional Police Headquarters was stated to have transferred the case to the Benue State Police Command for additional investigation.

While the suspects have been being handed over, the President of the Igede Youth Council, Comrade John-Frank Ozzidi, appealed to the Benue State Government to conduct a complete investigation and make sure that these accountable have been prosecuted.

Ozzidi recommended neighborhood members for refusing to take the legislation into their very own arms, noting that that they had allowed safety companies to take cost of the scenario.

He additionally appealed to elected and appointed political representatives from the world to observe up on the investigation to make sure that the circumstances surrounding the deaths have been uncovered and justice delivered.

Meanwhile, Chairman of Oju Local Government Council, Mr Jackson Ominyi, confirmed the incident however stated he couldn’t instantly verify the whole quantity of people that had died.

Ominyi defined that three deaths had been reported to him as of the day gone by, including that different victims have been receiving therapy on the General Hospital in Oju.

“My people are working on that. My security secretary and security adviser are on it.

“The others are in the General Hospital, Oju. My health department is also taking care of them.

“I have tried to calm the situation down. The person selling the herbs was arrested and sent to Makurdi three days ago,” he stated.

Attempts to acquire feedback from the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Peter Aondongu, have been unsuccessful, as he didn’t reply to enquiries earlier than this report was filed.