No fewer than four people have reportedly lost their lives, while 14 others have been hospitalised after allegedly consuming a poisonous herbal concoction bought in Oju township, headquarters of Oju Local Government Area of Benue State.
The herbal products were reportedly sold to members of the Igede community by three men identified as Alhaji Mai Magamani, Mohamed and Musa Kolo during the Ihiejwo market day in Oju last weekend.
An eyewitness disclosed that the incident became known on Monday, November 2, 2026, when several people who had purchased and consumed the herbal preparations began experiencing similar health complications.
The source said the first victim died on Tuesday morning, followed by another person in the early hours of Wednesday.
Two additional victims reportedly died on November 4, bringing the death toll to four.
According to the eyewitness, at least 14 other people were receiving medical attention, with some said to be in critical condition.
Following the incident, the three suspected herbal medicine sellers were reportedly arrested by the Igede Youth Council, working alongside the Oju Local Government Township Youth leadership, before being handed over to the police.
The Oju Divisional Police Headquarters was said to have transferred the case to the Benue State Police Command for further investigation.
While the suspects were being handed over, the President of the Igede Youth Council, Comrade John-Frank Ozzidi, appealed to the Benue State Government to conduct a comprehensive investigation and ensure that those responsible were prosecuted.
Ozzidi commended community members for refusing to take the law into their own hands, noting that they had allowed security agencies to take charge of the situation.
He also appealed to elected and appointed political representatives from the area to follow up on the investigation to ensure that the circumstances surrounding the deaths were uncovered and justice delivered.
Meanwhile, Chairman of Oju Local Government Council, Mr Jackson Ominyi, confirmed the incident but said he could not immediately ascertain the total number of people who had died.
Ominyi explained that three deaths had been reported to him as of the previous day, adding that other victims were receiving treatment at 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 said.
Attempts to obtain comments from the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Peter Aondongu, were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to enquiries before this report was filed.
