Joy Anyim
Days after reports of poisonous cow skins (ponmo) in Lagos, the State Police Command said six persons, were over the weekend arrested with a truck load of the cow skin in Igando area of the state.
The suspects named: Adelowo yinka, 50 yeras, Olawumi Onabanj, 40 years, Omowumi Wasiu, 43 years, Adeshokan Taiwo, 43 years, Iyabo oluwa, 38 years and Taye Kazeem 40 years allegdly run a warehouse at No 9 College road, Igando, where the poisonous cow skins were stored.
They were arrested when information on their activities filtered to policemen at the Igando police Division.
Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Elkana Bala, who issued a press statement on the arrested suspects, said upon the arrest of the suspects, the Lagos State Ministry of Health was notifed and a lab test was conducted, which showed the cow skins were poisinous and not suitable for human consumption.
Bala gives details of the arrest: “ On May 4, 2019 at about 5am, acting on the strength of a information from a credible source that a Truck load of cow skins, popularly called ‘PONMO’, suspected to be poisonous were heaped in a warehouse; a team of Police Officers led by the Divisional Police Officer Igando, mobilized to the scene.
“ The huge pillage and pyramid of poisonous ponmo and the chemicals used in the preservation of the Cow skins were recovered. One TATA Truck with Registration number AKD-375-XB which was used in conveying the goods was impounded.
“ Officials of Lagos State Ministry of Health were contacted and after due examination, the Cow skins were confirmed to be poisonous and not fit for human consumption. Six suspects were arrested in connection with the case.”
Commenting on the seizures , the Lagos Commissioner of Police, CP Zubairu Muazu has assured Lagosians that the command is determined to continually protect life and property of the people as well as preservation of Public Health and Safety as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
CP Muazu said Investigation is ongoing to ascertain the source and destinations of those poisonous cow skins, while the suspects will be charged to court.
