Epe, Lagos – At about 5:25pm yesterday, gallant Environmental Health Officers on their way home intercepted diseased meat being transported for sale at Epe Night Market along the Ibeju to Epe Expressway.
The cow, which had been hurriedly butchered into four parts without de-furring, was spotted by vigilant officers while already in transit on a motorbike heading to the night market. Upon being accosted on the expressway, the culprits attempted to escape and fled at top speed towards Epe, but the determined officers pursued them relentlessly.
With the support of the community, the suspects were eventually arrested in Epe area and taken to Epe Divisional Police Station.
At the station, a post-mortem examination was carried out on the carcass and it was detected that the food animal was infected, with signs of enlarged lymph nodes in the muscles of the carcass as well as in the offals (intestines).
During interrogation and detention by the Police, the culprits later confessed that the animal was very ill before it was slaughtered. Investigation continues today.
The Director of District 1, San. Akinola Deborah, in her proactiveness, immediately joined the officers at the Police Station to ensure due diligence and proper Environmental Health action is taken towards the disposal of the infected meat in line with Public Health Law Cap P16, Laws of Lagos State 2015.
The vigilant Senior Environmental Health Officers who made the arrest are San. Kuye Hannah and San. Azeez Lawal, with support from San. Ogunneye Adekunle at the Police Station upon hearing of the incident.
The culprits had thought officials would have closed for the day, but the long arm of the law caught up with them.
Reporting: EHOAN Lagos State
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