The Borno State Police Command has arrested five suspects for allegedly processing and distributing meat from dead cattle to unsuspecting consumers in Maiduguri.
The suspects were apprehended on July 29 by operatives of the command’s Violent Crime Response Unit, popularly known as the Crack Squad, following intelligence on the alleged illegal operation at the Old Maiduguri Cattle Market.
The command identified the suspects as Modu Umar, 43, Abba Mohammed, 24, Adam Abubakar, 21, Faruq Gambo, 19, and Mada Usman, 24.
Police said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly sourced cattle that had died, butchered the carcasses and supplied the meat to roadside vendors for resale to members of the public.
According to the command, the suspects were intercepted while allegedly transporting the carcass of a dead cow to the Morumti area of Maiduguri, where it was reportedly meant to be processed and distributed.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, disclosed in a statement that the suspects remain in custody as investigations continue to uncover the full extent of the operation.
He said detectives were working to identify the distribution network and arrest other individuals believed to be connected with the alleged crime.
“The suspects are currently in police custody while a discreet investigation is ongoing to determine the full extent of the activity, trace the intended distribution network and identify other collaborators,” the statement said.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Naziru Abdulmajid, condemned the alleged practice, describing the sale of meat from dead animals as a serious threat to public health.
He assured residents that the command would continue collaborating with relevant government agencies and other stakeholders to clamp down on the sale of unwholesome meat and safeguard public health across the state.