In response to reports of poisoned cow meat being sold to the public, the Kwara State Government has taken decisive measures to safeguard public health and prevent further harm. Following investigations and consultations with stakeholders, the government has implemented a series of actions to address the issue.
The contaminated cow beef has been buried around the Kwara State College of Arabic and Islamic Legal Studies in Ilorin, the state capital, to prevent its consumption. Additionally, all slaughtering activities have been suspended for three consecutive days to facilitate proper fumigation of slaughter slabs and ensure public safety.
The government’s swift response was prompted by concerns raised by the Kwara Monitoring Group and subsequent laboratory tests confirming the contamination. The joint efforts of various ministries and agencies, including Agriculture, Health, Environment, and the State Environmental Protection Agency, underscore the seriousness with which the government is addressing the situation.
Preliminary investigations have attributed the incident to grazing on contaminated grasses in the area. To prevent similar occurrences, the Ministry of Agriculture will intensify surveillance at abattoirs across the state and enforce strict standards for meat inspection. Private slaughter slabs that fail to meet these standards will be closed down, with operations redirected to government-run facilities.
Furthermore, the government has temporarily shut down the abattoir at Mandate Market in Ilorin West Local Government Area and ordered the area’s general cleaning and fumigation. These actions aim to cleanse the facility of any remaining traces of contamination and mitigate risks to public health.