The Akwa Ibom State government has warned citizens against the sale and consumption of toxic skin meat, popularly called ‘Ikpa Ebola’.
The poisonous meat, which has been on sale in the last four months, it was gathered, is smuggled from Europe through an intermediary, whose identity is still being trailed by the State Security Service (SSS).
Speaking at a briefing yesterday, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr. Godwin Afangideh, said the government had taken measures to rid Akwa Ibom markets of the meat.
Afangideh, who spoke through his Director of Veterinary Services, Dr. Obot Obot, at Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat said the ministry carried out sensitisation campaigns in local and urban markets.
He said: “The government, through the Veterinary Services Directorate, has embarked on a sensitisation campaign to markets on the dangers of the meat.
“The sensitisation, which was led by a veterinary officer, warned people to watch out for toxic meat, following reports of its importation.
“The skin meat, which is five times thicker than ordinary skin meat, is injected with a toxic substance called formalin used for its preservation. This formalin in the long run is capable of causing cancer and liver problems.”
He advised the public to watch what it eats and drink, stressing that untimely deaths could result from consumption of such toxic foods.
Speaking on efforts by the ministry to fish out those behind the importation, he said: ‘’We are on their trail, you know it’s largely the work of the SSS. Our efforts have not been successful
