The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Yobe State Command, has arrested five persons, including a 42-year-old woman, over the alleged purchase and processing of dead cattle for human consumption.
The NSCDC Public Relations Officer, Bala Garba, said the command placed the woman, identified as Nancy Benedict, under discreet surveillance for two weeks before her arrest.
According to the NSCDC, the suspects were arrested in the New Jerusalem area of Damaturu, following intelligence received by the command about the alleged activity.
Garba said the command received intelligence about the woman’s activities and monitored her discreetly for two weeks before she was seen purchasing two cattle carcasses for N100,000, allegedly to process the meat for human consumption.
“We arrested the suspects after our operatives witnessed the woman purchasing the two cattle carcasses. The five suspects are currently in custody, and we are investigating the source of the cattle, how they died and whether the meat had already been processed or supplied to other people,” Garba said.
The command is also expected to establish whether the suspects had been involved in similar activities before their arrest.
The NSCDC warned that meat from animals that died without proper veterinary inspection could pose serious food safety risks to consumers.
NSCDC arrests woman, four others over alleged sale of dead cattle meat in Yobe