The Ondo State Government has banned the produc-tion and consumption of locally-made gin, commonly called ‘ogogoro’ in the state, following the recent strange deaths in Ode-Irele.

The Commissioner for Health, Dayo Akinyanju told reporters in Akure yesterday that medical reports showed that the deaths were caused by ethanol poisoning

He said: “Our clinical analysis reveals the fact that there were no known viruses, while toxicology reports have confirmed our prime suspicion of ethanol poisoning.

“We have reviewed our strategies and embarked on sensitization to let people know that locally-made gin is prohibited.

“We will also embark on searches because this batch of methanol-containing gin must have gone round because four cases: two alive and two dead have been found in Odigbo Local Government Area,” he said.

Mr. Akinyanju said stakeholders such as religious leaders, transporters, youths, market women, and the relevant association would be informed of the development.

He said, “We will start with the entire South Senatorial District, then move to the Central Senatorial District.”

According to the commissioner, the unknown disease has so far claimed 23 lives with 10 other people receiving treatment.

“Two of them have regained their sights and are back home.

“We appeal to the general public to desist from drinking the gin until we are able to identify the source of contamination or find out how the methanol got into the drinks,” he said.

The commissioner said that the state government was working closely with the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control and the National Orientation Agency to sensitise members of the public to the dangers of consuming such drinks.

The federal government yesterday recalled Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Africa as an immediate fallout of the xenophobic attacks on foreigners in that country.

Acting High Commissioner Martin Cobham and Deputy High Commissioner Uche Ajulu-Okeke were directed to return home for consultations in the latest sign of African countries’ discontent at Pretoria’s handling of attacks on immigrants.

“The invitation is in connection with the on-going xenophobia in South Africa targeting foreigners, mainly African migrants,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Seven people have been killed in attacks on migrants since March 20, when Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini spoke out against foreign workers.

“Let us pop our head lice,” he said. “We must remove ticks and place them outside in the sun. We ask foreign nationals to pack their belongings and be sent back.”

He has since said those remarks were taken out of context and that he opposes violence.

Nigeria had earlier summoned South Africa’s high commissioner over the unrest as protesters picketed the South African embassy in Lagos. A Nigerian group has called for the International Criminal Court to investigate Zwelithini for “hate speech”.

South Africa has deployed troops to try to quell the violence, after criticism by nations including China and Zimbabwe for failing to protect their citizens against armed mobs.

South African firms such as mobile phone giant MTN and supermarket chain Shoprite have significant interests in Nigeria.