Palpable fear has gripped residents of Ilorin and other parts of Kwara State over the purported sale of 33 cows suspected to have died of poisoning for public consumption.
Already, the state government has temporarily shut
the abattoir at Mandate Market in Ilorin to allow for fumigation and general cleaning of the area.
The affected cows were said to have been slaughtered and distributed to butchers by their owners to reduce total loss.
The butchers were said to have sold poisoned cattle to the public, which could likely cause outbreak of diseases in the state.
The affected cows were sighted along Atere road linking Al-Hikma university campus right Inside College of Arabic and Islamic Studies, Ilorin.
The state government, though, has taken steps including raiding meat selling points and markets to determine the source of their goods to forestall the likely spread of diseases.
Kwara Monitoring Group (KMG) immediately pleaded with the Commissioner for Environment, Health and the state Environmental Protection Agency (KWEPA) to take immediate action “to prevent the poisoned and dead cows being sold to unsuspecting public,” it said.
KMG assured that it would not relent in supporting the state government to sanitise the state.
Meanwhile, the State Ministry of Environment has temporarily shut the abattoir at Mandate Market in Ilorin to allow for fumigation and general cleaning of the area following suspected meat poisoning in the facility.
A statement issued in Ilorin on Sunday which was signed by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Abubakar Ayinla said the steps are part of the efforts to protect members of the public following the incident.
He however said that the abattoir will be reopened on Wednesday.
Also, the state government has warned the public not to patronise illegal meat selling points disposing meat at cheaper rates.
The government warned veterinary centres and meat selling points to adhere strictly to proper hygiene.
Hammed Shittu in Ilorin
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