Facts have emerged that
the death toll arising from the consumption of the local gin, popularly known as Kaikai or Ogogoro has risen from 38 to 66 in Rivers State.
The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Health, Dr. Somiari Harry, released the figure to newsmen in a meeting with vendors of Ogogoro in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital recently.
Harry, who described the death toll as alarming and unfortunate, said the state government was making frantic efforts in ensuring stoppage of the consumption of the local gin in the state to safeguard the health of the people.
The Permanent Secretary, however, appealed to the residents of the state to abstain from consumption of Ogogoro to avoid risking their lives and the health of the state.
He was particularly unhappy that people would still engage in ogogoro business despite the fact that the product constitutes risk to the health of the people.
While advising residents of the state to abstain from consumption of ogogoro, Harry, however said the state government would not tolerate a situation where some individuals will sabotage her efforts in checking the health of the people.
A major dealer of the local gin in Nembe/Creek road area in Port Harcourt, who did not disclose his name at the meeting, said, it was unfortunate the deaths were being traced to consumption of the gin.
He said his family had been in the business since 1971, and that nobody had died from consuming their product.
He insisted that the one responsible for the death so far recorded in the state came from neighboring state which he did not disclose.
He said they had always bought what they sold from neighbouring Bayelsa State, noting that their own was poison-free.
He said since news of the casualties broke out in the state, they had been forced to lock up their shops, assuring that they would cooperate with government until the problem was resolved.

Natasha Otoma/Mercy Gift