Beware!!! ‘Poisonous ponmo’ are being sold in Lagos markets

Beware!!! 'Poisonous ponmo' are being sold in Lagos markets

The Lagos state government has alerted citizens of the circulation of ‘poisonous’  cowhide, known as “ponmo” in markets in the state.

This warning was given in a statement by Adeola Salako, director of public affairs, Lagos ministry of health. The statement revealed that the state government has arrested three persons in connection with the sale of these “poisonous ponmo” in Ojo and Iba local government areas of Lagos.

According to Salako, the poisonous ponmo were confiscated in large numbers, while samples have been sent to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for tests.

“The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, who disclosed this in his office today (Sunday) while reviewing report of preliminary investigation and enforcement carried out on the sale of the toxic ponmo in the areas, stated that the three persons involved have been charged to court, while samples of the confiscated ponmo had been sent to the NAFDAC laboratory for suitability test analysis for human consumption,” the statement read.

The attention of the state government was said to have been drawn to the activities of traders, who are known to sell poisonous cowhide in different locations in the two local government areas, early in the morning.

“Preliminary investigations and suspects tracing revealed that the traders were very active in the early hours between the hours 4.00am and 6.00am at various locations such as Volkswagen bus stop, iyana iba, Afolabi Ege Markets, all within Ojo local government and Iba local council areas of the State,” he said.

“Furthermore, a company said to be located at ijedodo area of Iba LCDA was indicted as a source of supply of this toxic Ponmo and has subsequently been put under surveillance.”