Police arrest six persons with ‘large quantity of poisonous ponmo’

The Lagos state police command has arrested six persons with “large quantity of poisonous cow skins” popularly known as “Ponmo”.

A statement by Bala Elkana, police public relations officer, said the force acted on a tip off that a truck-load of “poisonous cow skins” were stored in a warehouse No 9, College Road, Igando area of the state.

He said the force mobilised its team, led by a divisional police officer, and swooped on the suspects.

“On 04/05/2019 at about 5.00am, acting on the strength of a information from a credible source that a Truckload of Cow skins, popularly called ‘PONMO’, suspected to be poisonous were heaped in a warehouse at No 9 College road, Igando; a team of Police Officers led by the Divisional Police Officer Igando, mobilized to the scene,” the statement read.

“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.”

The police listed the names of the suspects as Adelowo Yinka, Olawumi Onabanjo, Omowumi Wasiu, Adeshokan Taiwo, Iyabo Olúwa and Taye Kazeem.

Zubairu Muazu, the state commissioner of police, assured Lagosians that the force is determined to continually protect life and property of the people as well as preservation of public health and safety.

“Investigation is ongoing to ascertain the source and destinations of those poisonous food items. Suspects will be charged to court,” Muazu said.

Adeola Salako, director of public affairs, Lagos ministry of health, had earlier called on the public to be vigilant and report any sales of unwholesome foods and food products to environmental health officer in their nearest local government or to the ministry of health.