EBOLA: Customs Intercepts, Destroys Truckload Of Monkey Meat In Katsina

A truck-load of bush meat suspected to be monkey meat smuggled into the country by a yet to be identified smuggler, yesterday, was destroyed by operatives of Kaduna and Katsina command of the Nigerian Custom Service.

According to Customs Comptroller of Federal Operations Unit (FOU, Zone B), Maina Tijjani Suleiman, the truck was intercepted Thursday morning at the Katsina border.

Suleiman also said the truck contained 351 bags of bush meat and that each of the bags weighed 100Kg, stressing that the seized meat may have come from Libya.

He explained that the seizure was necessary in view of the current challenge of the dreaded Ebola disease, noting that had the meat made its way to Nigerian markets, “only God will tell the extent of damage it may cause.”

He warned importers of similar products to desist from doing such or face the full wrath of the law, assuring that the customs would not shirk from its responsibility of supporting the ongoing fight against Ebola.

“The driver abandoned the vehicle and ran away after he was chased by our men. But then, some hoodlums attempted to attack our men and it took the reinforcement of operatives before the truck was retrieved.”

In a speech, the Katsina State commissioner of health, Mannir Talba, who lauded operatives of Nigerian customs for the seizure, said it was the needed step in the collective resolve to prevent the spread of Ebola.