Ogogoro Death toll in River State now 66.

PORT HARCOURT—Rivers State government, yesterday, said the death toll from consumed poisonous local gin, otherwise known as ogogoro, has risen to 66 from 38. - See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/06/ogogoro-tragedy-in-rivers-death-toll-now-66/#sthash.C9vDYKXn.dpuf

Mogadishu – Somali terrorist group, Al-Shabaab, said on Thursday that it was planning to attack neighbouring Kenya during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins June 17.
A senior al-Shabaab commander told newsmen on condition of anonymity that they were planning to give Kenyan non-believers a true taste of Jihad (the holy war) in the next few days and weeks.
“Attacks were mainly planned in Kenya’s north-eastern province that borders Somalia,’’ he said.
However, the group claimed it already infiltrated the region.
“We will keep targeting and destroying Kenya’s education sector and business sector,’’ the al-Shabaab commander said.
According to the commander, the terrorists are also threatening to attack Kenyan troops stationed in southern Somalia in coming weeks.
Al-Shabaab has targeted Kenya since 2011, when Kenyan troops entered Somalia to help the government fight the group.
Al-Shabaab killed 152 people at a university campus in Garissa in April and no fewer than 67 people at a Nairobi shopping mall in September 2013
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/06/al-shabaab-threatens-to-attack-kenya-during-ramadan/#sthash.MzSfHTxB.dpuf

Mogadishu – Somali terrorist group, Al-Shabaab, said on Thursday that it was planning to attack neighbouring Kenya during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins June 17.
A senior al-Shabaab commander told newsmen on condition of anonymity that they were planning to give Kenyan non-believers a true taste of Jihad (the holy war) in the next few days and weeks.
“Attacks were mainly planned in Kenya’s north-eastern province that borders Somalia,’’ he said.
However, the group claimed it already infiltrated the region.
“We will keep targeting and destroying Kenya’s education sector and business sector,’’ the al-Shabaab commander said.
According to the commander, the terrorists are also threatening to attack Kenyan troops stationed in southern Somalia in coming weeks.
Al-Shabaab has targeted Kenya since 2011, when Kenyan troops entered Somalia to help the government fight the group.
Al-Shabaab killed 152 people at a university campus in Garissa in April and no fewer than 67 people at a Nairobi shopping mall in September 2013
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/06/al-shabaab-threatens-to-attack-kenya-during-ramadan/#sthash.MzSfHTxB.dpuf

PORT HARCOURT—Rivers State government, yesterday, said the death toll from consumed poisonous local gin, otherwise known as ogogoro, has risen to 66 from 38.

A woman hawking Ogogoro drinks in Akure.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Somiari Harry, who disclosed this to journalists shortly after a meeting with vendors of ogogoro, said efforts were on to ensure stoppage of consumption till further notice. A major dealer of the local gin in Nembe/Creek road area in Port Harcourt, who was at the meeting, said it was unfortunate that 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 a neighboring state. He said they always bought what they sold from neighbouring Bayelsa State, stressing 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.

Earlier in the day, Deputy Governor of the state, Dr. Ipalibo Banigo, appealed to people in the state to stop consumption of the drink, urging them to avoid it in traditional events.