The ban placed on the
consumption of locally brewed gin, popularly called Ogogoro or  kaikai  by the Rivers State Mministry of Health appears not to be headed as seven more consumers are said to have died after taking the product.
The Tide gathered that three persons died on Monday in Port Harcourt city Local Government Area, while four died on Saturday in Ahoada West Local Government Area of the state.
While the identities of the dead persons in Port Harcourt are not known, Mr. Meeting  Olodhi, Justice Udeh, Vincent Ogbobula and Ada Philemon were identified as the four fresh dead persons in Ahoada West, bring the recorded deaths to a total of 45.
The victims from Ahoada West are said to be natives of Idu-Ekpeye, and they were said to have died after consuming ogogoro.
The paramount ruler of Idu-Ekpeye community, Chief Owukori told newsmen that late Olodhi, a native doctor had hosted a friend from Bayelsa State on Friday.
According to Owukori, the guest who volunteered to buy ogogoro, purchased the gin from the market. He said when the man eventually returned with a bottle of gin for his host and a bottle of beer for himself, he declined taking the gin bought for health reasons and only drank the beer.
According to the traditional ruler, few hours after consuming the drink with others,Olodhi and Udeh started complaining of stomach ache and eye problem and that they both died the next day.
However, Ogbobula and Mrs. Philemon , who also drank the gin   were said to have died later. It was gathered that before they passed on, all the victims became blind.
Identity of the Bayelsa man who allegedly bought the Ogogoro is said to be unknown to the people.
It would be recalled that authorities of River State Ministry of Health banned the consumption of local gin last week following the deaths of 38 persons after consuming the product.
Obio/Akpor, Gokanc and Bonny local government area were the area where the deaths were recorded by the ministry.

Chris Oluoh