The Rivers State government said yesterday that 70 of the 80 persons who took the contaminated local gin, Ogogoro, earlier this month, had died.


Dr Nnanna Onyekwere, Director Public Health Services, Rivers ministry of health, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt yesterday that two of the survivors had visual impairment.

He said the cases were reported in Woji and Gokana communities in the state.

“So far, in the past one week, we have not had any more deaths or new cases. The situation has been under control. In the beginning, it started somewhere in Woji and by the time we had the last count, we had about 80 persons tracked down who took the drink, out of which 70 had died, the rest survived while two had visual impairment as a result of the drink,’’ he said.

According to Onyekwere, the state government had liaised with the relevant stakeholders, especially dealers of the local gin, to educate and