Sixty-six deaths have so far been recorded in a killer gin tragedy in Nigeria’s southern state of Rivers since last week, a state official said Thursday. In a statement signed by Nnana Onyekwere, the public health director in the state, 28 deaths were recorded on Wednesday, adding to the 38 initial figure of casualties given by officials.
Continued consumption of a locally brewed gin by local residents in the state had caused the monumental loss of lives, especially in the Obio/Akpor local district where more people were suspected to have consumed the banned drink, the statement said.
Last April, at least 30 people were killed when a similar tragedy hit the southwestern state of Ondo as local residents were found dead after taking the locally brewed
Local health officials on ground said Port Harcourt, the Nigerian oil hub and capital of the province, as well as Bonny, Gokana and Ahoada West areas of the state were also affected.
