Kwara closes slaughterhouse to investigate allegation of poisonous meat

The Kwara State Government on Sunday ordered the temporary closure of the slaughterhouse at the Mandate Market in Ilorin, Ilorin West Local Government Area, following the alleged sale of poisonous cow meat at the market.

The government, in a statement from the Ministry of Environment, also ordered immediate general cleaning and disinfection of the slaughterhouse to rid it of the suspected meat poisoning.

The statement signed by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Abubakar Ayinla, said the slaughterhouse would remain closed until Wednesday.

Ayinla said the decision was part of efforts to protect members of the public after a non-governmental organization, Kwara Monitoring Group, raised the alarm that meat from 33 cows, which reportedly died of poisoning, had found its way into the market for sale to public members.

The group claimed in an unsigned statement issued early on Sunday: “More than 33 cows were suspected to have been poisoned and died immediately, but surprisingly the dead animals were slaughtered and distributed to butchers for sale. It happened along Atere Road (which leads to Al Hikma Campus), right inside the College of Arabic and Islamic Studies, Ilorin.

“It is our prayer that the concerned ministry and agency will take immediate action as no one knows whose family will end up purchasing and consuming such poisoned meat sold in the market.”

Reacting to the allegation, the state government, in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina El-Imam, and his counterpart in the Ministry of Agriculture, Toyosi Adebayo, said it had deployed a team of officials to the market. adding that they had seized the suspected poisonous meat.

The state said the seized meat was taken for laboratory testing.

The statement was titled: “Kwara govt team arrives at mandate market and seizes suspected beef.”

It read: “Officials and experts of the Kwara State Government have arrived at the Mandatory Market in Ilorin to activate 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 of the Ministry of Environment, including the Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Environmental Protection Agency, Mrs. Folorunsho Idayat, and officials of the Ministry of Health, including the Permanent Secretary, Alhaja Afusat Ibrahim, and the Director of Health, Dr. Oluwatosin Including Fakayode.

“The government immediately seized all suspect meat for laboratory testing and confirmation of claims following initial discussions with Mandate Market stakeholders.

“Further information will be provided if necessary.

“The government urges the public to remain calm while the team determines the truth behind the poisoned meat rumor. It also commends the market leadership for their collaboration to date.”

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