6 Suspects Arrested Over Poisonous Ponmo Meat
CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
The Police in Lagos have arrested six suspects with large quantity of poisonous cow skins popularly known as ‘Ponmo’ which were stored in a warehouse in Igando area of the state.
P.M.EXPRESS reports as was disclosed by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bala Elkana.
He said that on 4th May, 2019, at about 5.00am, acting on the strength of information from a credible source that a truck load of cow skins, popularly called ‘Ponmo’, suspected to be poisonous were heaped in a warehouse at No. 9 College Road, Igando, Lagos. He said that a team of police officers led by the Divisional Police Officer of Igando Division, mobilised to the scene.
The huge pillage and pyramid of poisonous ponmo and the chemicals used in the preservation of the cow skins were recovered. DSP Elkana said that one Tata truck, with registration number AKD-375-XB, which was used in conveying the goods was impounded. The officials of Lagos State Ministry of Health were then contacted and after due examination, the cow skins were confirmed to be poisonous and not fit for human consumption.
The spokesman said six suspects namely: Adelowo Yinka, 50, of No. 1 Ifelodun Street, Agric Road, Egan (truck driver), Olawumi Onabanjo, 40, of 3 Olunshabiko Street, Itere, Ogun State, were arrested and detained.
Others suspects detained were: Omowumi Wasiu, 43, of New Site, Muwo Badagry, Adeshokan Taiwo, 43, with no fixed address, Iyabo Oluwa, 38, of Ifelodun Street Ijegun Ikotun, and Taye Kazeem, 40, of No 11 Disu Street,off Ijagemon Road, Ijegun, were arrested in connection with the case.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Zubairu Muazu, assured Lagosians that the Police Command is determined to continually protect lives and property as well as preserve the public health and safety as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He said that investigation is ongoing to ascertain the source and destinations of those poisonous food items and that the suspects will be charged to Court at the conclusion of investigations.