33 cows reportedly poisoned, slaughtered and dispersed in Ilorin; The Kwara government is taking action

The Kwara State government on Sunday seized beef believed to have come from 33 cows that were allegedly poisoned.

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

Following the KMG alert, officials of the Kwara state government and veterinarians stormed the popular Mandate Market, Adewole, 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 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 Fakayode .

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

“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.”