The death toll from the deadly local gin known in the local parlance as ‘ogogoro’ had on Wednesday, June 10, 2015 risen to 66 from initial 38 in Rivers State.
This development was divulged to newsmen in the state through the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Somiari Harry, after a meeting with the local gin vendors in the state.
According to Harry, efforts have been intensified by the government to ensure a pause in the consumption of the local gin across the state until the condition is put under control.
Residents in the state had also be warned to desist from consuming the gin in order to help curb the problem currently plaguing the state.
In reaction, one of the major dealers in Nembe/Creek road area in Port Harcourt, whose identity was not disclosed expressed shock that over the alleged death records.
He recalled that since his family started the business in 1971, nobody had been reported dead as a result of consumption of their product which they usually bought from Bayelsa State.
The gin dealer maintained that the poisonous gin which led to the deaths was from a neighbouring state.
Although he assured a compliance to the directives of the state government until the problem is put to check.
