Enugu, Nigeria (ChatnewsTV) – The Enugu State Government has issued a stern warning to butchers and poultry farmers, urging them to cease the sale of animals and chickens that have died under suspicious circumstances. Authorities have vowed to punish offenders to prevent potential public health risks.
In a joint press statement released Monday by the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Ikechukwu Obi, and the Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation, Mr. Patrick Ubru, the government highlighted growing concerns about the presence of meat from animals that died of disease entering local markets. The alarm was raised following a whistleblower tip-off from concerned citizens.
“The sale of animals that died from unknown causes outside the normal methods of preparation is a serious crime,” the statement read. “There are grave health risks associated with consuming such meat as it can lead to zoonotic diseases, which are easily transmitted from animals to humans.”
The commissioners warned that any farmer or butcher caught engaging in the illegal practice would face strict sanctions. “The crime will not go unpunished as state health officers are already conducting investigations and visiting livestock farms and abattoirs,” they added.
Authorities from the state’s departments of public health, veterinary services, local government disease surveillance, and notification offices have been mobilized to investigate the claims and ensure that only safe, healthy animals are sold in the state’s markets.
Prof. Obi and Mr. Ubru stressed that the consumption of meat from animals that died mysteriously could lead to serious health consequences, including outbreaks of zoonotic diseases, which have the potential to cause widespread epidemics.
“We urge members of the public to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity in their communities. The sale of such meat can have devastating effects on public health,” the commissioners cautioned.
The government has provided hotlines for residents to report any such practices: 08037178703, 08066865511, 08037431577, or 08033375344.
In a closing note, the commissioners reassured the public that the government remains committed to safeguarding the health of its citizens by cracking down on illegal practices in the meat industry.
