The victims were from Araromi Obu and Odigbo town, where eight and 16 deaths were recorded respectively following the incident on Saturday.
The development has plunged the affected communities into mourning, with several other residents who reportedly consumed the substance currently receiving treatment in various hospitals.
The Chairman of Odigbo Local Government Area, Taiwo Adegoroye, confirmed the deaths, but said the exact cause had not been established as authorities were awaiting medical examinations and autopsies.
Adegoroye said a preliminary verbal autopsy conducted by the council’s health team suggested a possible connection between the deaths and consumption of the herbal substance.
He explained that some of the victims reportedly became unconscious after consuming the substance, with some dying while asleep or shortly after returning home.
According to him, the local government had, as a precautionary measure, banned the sale and consumption of locally brewed alcoholic drinks in the area pending the outcome of investigations.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, also confirmed the incident, saying health officials were conducting investigations to determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Ajaka said the government was treating the matter with seriousness and that further details would be released once the ongoing investigation established the actual cause of the deaths.
Meanwhile, youths in Odigbo reportedly staged a protest at the palace of the traditional ruler, demanding explanations and urgent intervention to prevent further fatalities.
The monarch, Oba Rufus Akinrinmade, appealed for calm and assured the youths that relevant authorities would investigate the incident, determine the cause of the deaths and work towards finding a lasting solution.
