The Kwara state government has temporarily shut the abattoir at Mandate market in Ilorin.

The move follows reports of the sale of meat from 33 cows reportedly killed due to poisoning.

The Kwara Monitoring Group (KMG) made the claim in a statement on Sunday and called for immediate action from the state government.

“Over 33 cows were suspected to be poisoned and died immediately but surprisingly, the dead animals were slaughtered and distributed to butchers to be sold,” the statement reads.

“It happened along Atere Road (that leads to Al Hikma Campus) right inside the College of Arabic and Islamic Studies, Ilorin.

“It is our prayer that the concerned ministry and agency will take immediate action as nobody knows whose family will end up buying and consuming such poisoned meat being sold in the market.”

Responding to the report, the state government, in a statement signed by Amina El-Imam, commissioner for health, said a team of officials had been deployed to the market, adding that the suspected poisonous beef was seized.

“Kwara State Government officials and experts have arrived at the Mandate Market in Ilorin to activate measures to protect the public amid rumours of poisoned cow meat,” the statement reads.

“On the team were the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Toyosi Thomas-Adebayo; Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina Ahmed El-Imam; officials from the Ministry of Environment, including the Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Environmental Protection Agency, Mrs Folorunsho Idayat, and officials from the Ministry of Health, including the Permanent Secretary, Alhaja Afusat Ibrahim, and the Director of Public Health, Dr. Oluwatosin Fakayode, among others.

“The government has immediately confiscated all the suspected meats for laboratory tests and confirmation of claims after initial engagements with the Mandate Market stakeholders.

“The government urges members of the public to be calm while the team establishes the truth of the rumour of poisoned meat. It also commends the leadership of the market for their cooperation so far.”

In an updated statement, the Kwara government said the ministry of environment has temporarily shut the abattoir “to allow for fumigation and general cleaning of the area following suspected meat poisoning in the facility”.

“Dr. Abubakar Ayinla, permanent secretary of the ministry, said the steps are part of the efforts to protect members of the public following the incident,” the statement reads.

“The abattoir will be reopened on Wednesday.”