Four dead and 14 hospitalised after herbal mixture poisoning in Benue's Igede community

Incident overview

Residents of the Igede community in Oju township, Oju Local Government Area of Benue State, reported a sudden outbreak of illness after buying and consuming locally prepared herbal mixtures on Monday, 2 November 2026. Within days, three victims died on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and a fourth death was recorded on Friday, bringing the confirmed death toll to four. Fourteen other people who had taken the mixtures were admitted to the General Hospital in Oju, with several described as being in critical condition.

Authorities verified that the herbal products were sold by three individuals named Alhaji Sule Mai Magani, Bello Mohamed, and Musa Kala. The Igede Youth Council and Oju Township Youth leadership detained the suspects, who were then surrendered to the Oju Divisional Police Headquarters before the matter was escalated to the Benue State Police Command in Makurdi for deeper inquiry. The Chairman of Oju Local Government, Jackson Ominyi, said the suspects had been sent to Makurdi three days after the incident and that his administration was coordinating health and security responses.

Background

The incident unfolded during the Ihiejwo market day, a regular trading event in Oju township, when the three traders offered the herbal mixtures to community members. Eyewitnesses recounted that after consumption, several residents began showing similar symptoms, prompting panic in the community. The first death occurred on the morning of 3 November, the second in the early hours of 4 November, and two further deaths were reported on 4 November, according to multiple local reports.

Benue State has previously experienced a similar tragedy in September 2026 in Ondo State, where a locally brewed herbal concoction caused at least 48 deaths and affected 182 people. This earlier incident has heightened awareness of the dangers posed by unregulated herbal products in the region.

Why it matters

The poisoning has immediate health implications for the victims and their families, with 14 individuals requiring hospital care and several in critical condition. The local health department, together with the General Hospital in Oju, is providing treatment, while reports suggest that medical experts, possibly from the World Health Organization, have been deployed to support the response.

The event also raises concerns about public safety and the regulation of traditional medicine. Comrade John-Frank Ozzidi, the President of the Igede Youth Council, alongside other community figures, urged the Benue State Government to conduct a comprehensive probe and hold all responsible parties accountable. Ozzidi emphasized that the youths deliberately avoided vigilante action, opting instead to hand the suspects over to police, and urged political office‑holders to monitor the investigation.

What happens next

The Benue State Police Command in Makurdi is now leading the investigation into the source of the poisonous substances and the circumstances surrounding the deaths. Police spokesperson DSP Peter Aondongu has not been reachable for comment, but the case has been formally transferred to state authorities. Local officials, including Chairman Jackson Ominyi, have pledged continued support for the victims and have mobilised security and health officials to manage the situation.

The Igede Youth Council and Oju Township Youth leadership have indicated that they will cooperate with law enforcement and monitor the progress of the inquiry. Community members are awaiting official confirmation of the final death toll and further details on the composition of the herbal mixture that caused the poisoning.

The incident underscores the need for stricter oversight of herbal product sales in Benue and highlights the role of community organisations in preventing vigilante justice while ensuring accountability through formal channels.