The Kwara state Ministry of Environment announced temporary closure of the abattoir at the Mandate Ultra Modern Market , Ilorin on Sunday noting that this was done to allow fumigation and general cleaning of the area following suspected meat poisoning at the facility.
A joint statement made available to Team@orientactualmags.com by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Toyosi Thomas-Adebayo; and Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina Ahmed El-Imam noted that the steps taken are part of efforts to protect members of the public following the development recorded during the weekend..
The statement added that the temporary closure of the abattoir will end on Wednesday.
Kwara state Government officials and experts had earlier on Sunday arrived at the Mandate Market to activate measures to protect the public amid rumours of poisoned beefs.
Members of the team were 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 statement added that all the suspected beefs were seized and taken away for laboratory tests and confirmation of claims after initial engagements with stakeholders in the market.
‘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 the market leaders for their cooperation so far’ the statement said.
Team@orientactualmags.com learned that those who own the controversial cows are cattle dealers who do keep cows at different locations outside the gate, a herder usually takes them out to graze and return them to the place every day.
Members of the public and some among those who slaughter cows at the abattoir do patronize them.
Sources told Team@orientactualmags.com that it all began on Saturday when the herder had taken the cattle to the Kwara state College of Arabic and Islamic Legal Studies, Ilorin to graze and while moving the herd of cattle back to base , they suddenly began to drop dead.
Though infectious diseases such as clostridial disease (blackleg, malignant edema, redwater, and enterotoxemia), anthrax, leptospirosis, and anaplasmosis are capable of causing sudden death in cattle, sources however told our reporter that the cows in question actually died from herbicide poisoning.
It was learned that those who do engage in rice farming at the Kwara state College of Arabic and Islamic Legal Studies had as part of the pre-planting steps sprayed herbicide to kill the existing weeds and the herd of cattle had grazed there without caution.
As the cows were collapsing , those in charge were slaughtering them and taking them to the abattoir and naturally passersby would need information to satisfy their curiosity and the strange development consequently became a topical issue.
The state government however took commendable steps by taking prompt measures to allay public fears .
The cows that dropped dead were seized and buried while the survivors were immediately quarantined-Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com. Thank you
