In Kwara, the Federal Government has raised concerns about the presence of poisoned animals at Mandate Cattle Market.
A statement from Mr. Temitope Fashedemi, the Permanent Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in Abuja, brought this issue to light.
The contamination of the animals was discovered at Mandate Cattle Market, located close to the College of Arabic and Islamic Legal Studies Adewole in Ilorin, Kwara.
According to investigations, it was found that the animals had fed on forage that had been treated with organophosphate chemicals before the incident occurred.
As a result, there was a significant death toll among the cattle herds at this market on April 20, as reported by the Kwara State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Common symptoms included excessive salivation and a general state of weakness among the affected animals.
Upon discovering these signs, the herders made the decision to slaughter seven of the severely affected animals for public consumption.
This situation poses a clear public health risk with potentially severe consequences within the food chain.
The Federal Government has activated Rapid Response Teams (RRT) in all states, comprised of personnel such as Federal Epidemiology Officers and State Directors of Veterinary Services, to address such incidents.
In response to this specific case, the RRT in Kwara State, working in conjunction with the State Government’s Task Force, promptly took action to track down and seize the meat from the slaughtered animals, ensuring it was disposed of in an environmentally safe manner.
Additionally, 40 animals showing signs of poisoning were treated with organophosphate antidotes, resulting in their improved health and eventual recovery.