Residents of Lagos were left in shock on Friday when officials of the Lagos State Taskforce apprehended a woman accused of mixing harmful colouring agents with spoiled yam flour to produce contaminated ‘Elubo Isu’ for unsuspecting buyers.
The suspect, identified as Mrs. Kehinde Raji, was arrested after a tip-off from the Chairman of the Elubo Sellers Association, who raised an alarm over suspicious activities within the market.
Confirming the arrest, Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said intelligence revealed that some traders were deliberately adulterating yam flour with dangerous chemicals before selling it to consumers.
“Our enforcement team conducted a swift raid, leading to the arrest of one Mrs. Kehinde Raji, who was caught in the act. We commend the market leadership for bringing this critical public health issue to our attention,” Wahab said.
Preliminary reports indicate that several consumers have already suffered health complications linked to the adulterated flour. The Commissioner assured that the suspect would be prosecuted under Lagos State laws.
The shocking revelation has sparked outrage among Nigerians, with many lamenting the growing trend of food adulteration across the country.
“Why not sell the original at a higher price instead of poisoning people? This is pure wickedness,” one concerned citizen said on social media.
Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant when purchasing food items and report any suspicious practices to relevant agencies.
