The Borno State Police Command has arrested five suspects for allegedly processing and selling meat from dead cattle to unsuspecting members of the public in Maiduguri.

The command said the suspects were apprehended on July 29 by operatives of its Violent Crime Response Unit, also known as the Crack Squad, following credible intelligence.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Nahum Daso, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, saying the arrests were part of the command’s efforts to safeguard public health and prevent activities capable of endangering residents.

He identified the suspects as Modu Umar, 43; Abba Mohammed, 24; Adam Abubakar, 21; Faruq Gambo, 19; and Mada Usman, 24.

According to the PPRO, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly conspired to obtain cattle that had died, butcher the carcasses and supply the meat to roadside vendors for sale to members of the public.

The statement added that the suspects were allegedly caught in possession of the carcass of a dead cow, which they were attempting to transport to the Morumti area of Maiduguri for further processing and distribution.

“The suspects allegedly conspired to obtain cattle found dead, butchered the carcasses and supplied the meat to roadside meat vendors for onward sale to members of the public,” the statement read.

 Daso stated that the suspects remained in custody while investigations continued to determine the full extent of the alleged operation, trace the intended distribution network and identify other persons connected to the activity.

 He added that the suspects would be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.

Reacting, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Naziru Abdulmajid, condemned the alleged practice, describing it as a serious threat to public health.

He assured residents that the command would continue to collaborate with relevant government agencies and stakeholders to prevent the sale and consumption of unwholesome meat across the state.

“As part of preventive measures, the Commissioner of Police will convene a community engagement with abattoir operators, butchers’ associations, livestock dealers, meat vendors, relevant regulatory authorities and other critical stakeholders to strengthen monitoring, promote compliance with public health and food safety standards, and develop measures aimed at preventing a recurrence,” the statement added.

The command urged meat vendors and consumers to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities relating to the slaughter, processing, transportation or sale of meat to the nearest police station or relevant regulatory authorities.