…As Plateau residents cart away poisonous wheat seeds
The Ekiti State government raised the alarm that large quantities of poisonous items, mistaken for food yet to be distributed as COVID-19 palliatives, were looted from warehouses in Ado-Ekiti on Friday.
The Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mr. Akin Omole, disclosed in a statement in Ado Ekiti that raising the alarm became expedient to forestall any harm that could befall anyone who consumes the items.
Also reportedly looted was the office of the Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) in Ado Ekiti.
“Information at our disposal revealed that the Federal Government’s silos, the ADP warehouse and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) stores, all in Ado- Ekiti, were attacked by hoodlums under the guise of seeking Covid-19 palliatives.
“We insist that Ekiti State currently has no Covid-19 palliative warehouse as all the palliatives had been distributed.
“Unfortunately, the items carted away were Single Super Phosphate and NPK fertilisers, which they erroneously thought was “Gaari’’, cassava grains.
“The SEMA store too has only emergency supplies for disaster response.
“Some people even made away with pre-fermented corns preserved for planting. All these items are poisonous and not fit for consumption.
“We, therefore, appeal to our people not to consume these items because they can kill,” Omole warned.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Olabode Adetoyi, confirmed the looting, warning that most of the items carted away contain chemically-treated seeds meant for planting.
“They are not suitable for consumption,” he warned.
Gov Fayemi
According to reports, the looters defied a heavy downpour in Ado-Ekiti on Friday night to invade the warehouses.
Many travelled long distances either in their private vehicles or in taxis or on motorcycles to get to the warehouses to loot.
Some residents are of the opinion that the looters were encouraged by similar incidents earlier reported in Lagos and Osun states, where bags of rice, beans, spaghetti and other consumables stored in government warehouses were looted.
Similarly in Plateau State, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development warned that the wheat seeds carted away by hoodlums from the National Agricultural Seed Council’s warehouse in Bukuru, Jos, Plateau State, are poisonous and not for human consumption.
The ministry gave the warning in a statement which indicated that the wheat seeds had been treated with chemicals and intended for planting during the dry season.
It appealed to the general public not to consume the seeds but to report anyone found to the nearest security agency.
The statement reads: “The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development hereby warns the general public that the wheat seeds carted away by hoodlums from the National Agricultural Seed Council’s warehouse in Bukuru, Jos, Plateau State are poisonous and NOT fit for human consumption.
“The wheat seeds have been treated with agrochemicals and intended for planting during the forthcoming dry season wheat production.
“The ministry hereby appeals to the general public NOT to consume these seeds but report any such found to the nearest Security Agency. Please be WARNED”.