Kwara State Government is asking the public to stay relaxed after hearing about the possible sale of poisonous meat at Mandate Market in Ilorin, the state capital.
The government's request comes after 33 cows were reported to have died from poison, and their meat was supposedly put up for sale.
A group called the Kwara Monitoring Group (KMG) issued an unsigned statement on Sunday, April 21, 2024, urging the Commissioners for Environment and Health, as well as the Kwara Environmental Protection Agency, to take immediate action to prevent the poisoned meat from being sold to unsuspecting people.
The group mentioned, “More than 33 cows are suspected to have been poisoned and died immediately, but surprisingly, the dead animals were slaughtered and given to butchers to sell.
“This happened along Atere Road (which leads to Al Hikma campus) inside College of Arabic and Islamic Studies, Ilorin.
“We hope that the relevant ministry and agency take proper action because nobody knows whose family may end up buying the poisoned meat at the market.”
However, a statement from the Government House titled “Kwara govt team arrives Mandate market, confiscates suspected beef,” signed by the Commissioners for Health and Agriculture, Dr Amina El-Imam and Toyosi Thomas Adebayo, reported that the government team went to the market to confiscate the suspected poisoned meat.
The statement mentioned, “Kwara State Government officials and experts have arrived at the Mandate Market in Ilorin to take measures to protect the public amid rumors of poisoned cow meat.
“The team included the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Toyosi Thomas-Adebayo; Commissioner for Health Dr. Amina Ahmed El-Imam; officials from the Ministry of Environment, including the Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Environmental Protection Agency, Mrs Folorunsho Idayat, and officials from the Ministry of Health including the Permanent Secretary, Alhaja Afusat Ibrahim, and the Director of Public Health Dr. Oluwatosin Fakayode, among others.
“The government has immediately confiscated all the suspected meats for laboratory tests and confirmation of claims after initial engagements with the Mandate Market stakeholders.
“Further information will be provided as necessary.
“The government is advising the public to stay calm while the team verifies the truth about the rumor of poisoned meat. It also praises the market's leadership for their cooperation so far.