The death toll rising from the consumption of adulterated local gin also known as ‘ogogoro’ in Rivers State has increased from thirty eight to sixty-six.
This was made known by the Rivers State Government at a meeting with the dealers of Ogogoro in Port Harcourt.
The Federal Government and its agency, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, had banned the sale of Ogogoro in the country as a result of deaths in Rivers State.
However, Permanent Secretary of the Rivers state Ministry told newsmen that the state government was worried over the increasing number of deaths despite the ban placed on the sale of the local gin.
“For now the total number of deaths is up to 66 because more people are dying and it is really unfortunate. The spread has covered more Local government areas. We are very worried,” the Permanent Secretary said.
The Permanent Secretary also said the state government was working with other relevant agencies to trace and clamp down on the source of the killer gin.
Leaders of the Ogogoro Sellers Union, Chief Nelson Blakk and Madam Elizabeth Kubor, who spoke on behalf of the union, expressed worry over the development, adding that their business had been affected by the ban.
The leaders also pledged to support the government with information.
The deaths caused by the local gin in Woji in Obio-Akpor Local government are, Bonny, Bile and Bodo, in the Ogoni axis, have made Rivers State the highest casualty after the incident in Ondo State.
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