Poisoned cows scare: Kwara gov’t confiscates beef at popular Ilorin market

Poisoned cows scare: Kwara gov’t confiscates beef at popular Ilorin market

The Kwara State government, on Sunday, confiscated beef suspected to be from 33 cows allegedly poisoned.

A group known as Kwara Monitoring Group (KMG) had in a viral message on social media claimed that “over 33 number of cows were suspected to be poisoned and died immediately. But, surprisingly, the dead animals were slaughtered and distributed out to butchers to be sold. It happened along Atere road, right inside the College of Arabic and Islamic Studies, Ilorin.”

Following the KMG’s alarm, officials of the Kwara State state government and veterinarians stormed the popular Mandate Market, Adewole, Ilorin, to activate measures to protect the public amid rumours of poisoned cow meat.

On the team were the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Toyosi Thomas-Adebayo; Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina 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.

A statement jointly signed by the two commissioners after their visit to the Mandate Market, Ilorin, which shares close proximity with the scene of the incident, read: “Kwara State government officials and experts have arrived at the Mandate Market in Ilorin to activate measures to protect the public amid rumours of poisoned cow meat.

“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 given as may become necessary.

“The government urges members of the public to be calm while the team establishes the truth of the rumour of poisoned meat. It also commends leadership of the market for their cooperation so far.”