Four persons have reportedly died in Ibara Housing Estate, Abeokuta, Ogun State, after drinking a local liquor, popularly called ogogoro.
Our correspondent learnt that the seller of the liquor, Salako Taloju, who also worked as a gateman, was arrested by policemen from the Ibara Police Station on Tuesday. Taloju was drunk at the time of arrest.
He was said to have told the police that the victims were residents of the area and he did not poison the liquor.
The deceased were identified only as Baba Imeko, Baba Onwenue and Easy, while the fourth victim’s name had yet to be ascertained.
Our correspondent gathered that three of the victims died on Monday when they all took the liquor, while the fourth victim died on Tuesday.
It was gathered that Taloju, who had been selling the liquor for over 20 years, resisted arrest, claiming that he was innocent.
Taloju, who spoke incoherently to journalists, said, “We were friends and we had been drinking together for a long time. I do not know why they have to accuse me now of killing them. I also took out of the liquor and nothing happened to me.”
When asked if he had reported the matter to his boss, Taloju said, “Do you want to kill me? My boss has warned me on several occasions not to drink again, but I refused.”
One of the neighbours, Mrs. Kemi Adepitan, confirmed that the victims died after consuming the liquor.
She said, “It is true that they died. Some other sympathisers and I paid a condolence visit to the house of one of the victims this morning.”
The acting Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the command did not receive any report of death.
He said “As far as we are concerned, it is a rumour. If any of their relatives comes and complains that their family members died, then, we can confirm it. We have not seen any corpse. Even though a suspect has been arrested, he is drunk and we cannot rely on his statement.”
