The Imo State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, says it has arrested one Chiwendu Iwuamadi for selling poisonous meat to residents of the state.
Iwuamadi, 33, who hails from the Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of the state, was arrested after allegedly selling the poisonous meat to a customer, who was an undercover operative of the corps.
Parading the suspect on Wednesday, at the command headquarters in Owerri, the state Commandant of the corps, Mr Raji Ibrahim, said Iwuamadi was arrested on Tuesday, October 16, 2018 on Egbu Road, Owerri.
Ibrahim, who stated that the lumps of meat sold by the said suspect were tested and certified poisonous by relevant personnel, added that Iwuamadi was known for the crime, and had been placed under surveillance by the corps undercover operatives.
He said, “Veterinary doctors, who conducted tests on the pieces of meat sold by Iwuamadi, confirmed that the meat was infected with tuberculosis and not recommended for consumption”.
“However, we gathered that after burying these condemned lumps of meat, the suspect would exhume them from where they were buried, wash and sell them for consumption.”
Iwuamadi, however, said he was a worker in an abattoir, adding that the pieces of meat he sold were the pieces gathered from cow legs, which were called tie-tie.
He said “I gathered the pieces of meat on Friday and sold to one customer the same day for N600. To my surprise, when I came to the abattoir the next day (Saturday), I was called that some officers and veterinary doctors were looking for me.
“I did not run because I did not nurse any fear that I had committed any offence.
“But they arrested me and said my stock-in-trade was selling of poisonous meat to people.”