Lokoja
Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state has put a 48-hour ban on the sale of meat in Lokoja,the state capital and environs following the mysterious death of 12 cows on Thursday.
Duaglobalnews reports the animals were on a grazing mission to the open land of Nigeria-Korea Vocational Institute, Lokoja when suddenly they gave up the ghost after eating some grssses.
The Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, disclosed the governor’s order in a statement he issued in Lokoja on Friday.
Fanwo revealed that the government had commenced coordinated security and scientific investigations into the death of the cows, adding they were being handled by security agencies through the Office of the State Security Adviser.
According to him, the investigation is being executed in conjunction with veterinary doctors in the Ministry of Agriculture as well as relevant officials of the Ministry of Environment.
The commissioner said: “The attention of the Kogi State Government has been drawn to the report of dead cows within the Lokoja Township.
“We wish to inform the people of the state, some of the proactive measures taken by government to find out the cause of the death of those cows and to also ensure their beef do not find their way into our markets.
“Security agencies and the affected Ministries and Departments have been mandated to form strong institutional walls that will stop the beef from getting into the market, as it is detrimental to public health.
“The Kogi State Government has also placed a ban on the sale of beef in Lokoja and its environs for the next 48 hours.
Some members of the public who spoke to the online publication lauded the state government for its action on the issue.
They, however, urged it to immediately deplore veterinary officers to the markets for a thorough examination of meat for sale to the public to ensure their health before consumption, before the 48-hour order elapses.
