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The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has uncovered two abattoirs mainly for slaughtering donkeys in Gombi Local Government Area (LGA) of Adamawa.
Mr. Abubakar Aliyu, Coordinator, Adamawa Field office of NESREA, disclosed this in an Interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Yola.
The Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Services ( Establishment) Act. 2017 has stipulated strict operational guidelines/regulations for donkey slaughtering and abattoir facility.
The coordinator said the abattoirs were located in Muchalla and Kwanta Muchalla villages in Gombi LGA.
“Following a tip by good citizens, the agency carried out an investigative visit to the suspected locations in Muchalla and Kwanta Muchalla villages in Gombi Local Government Area.
“During the investigation, we discovered two local abattoirs being used as donkey slaughtering sites in the villages,”Aliyu said.
He said there were more than 20 workers at the sites, and on a weekly basis according to the findings about 50 donkeys get slaughtered.
He said after thorough investigation showed that the facility was privately owned and the operators claimed to have acquired permit certificates from Gombi local Government Council, State Ministry for Livestock and Gombi Chiefdom.
Aliyu expressed worry that the mass slaughtering of donkeys in commercial quantities in the state was alarming and could lead to its extinction.
Mr ThankGod Stumpit, who identified himself as Manager of the slaughtering sites, told NAN that he had been in the business for the past four years.
“We are doing this business with the consent and permission from Gombi Local Government Authority and we are paying revenue to the authority.
“In fact, the state government, Police and Gombi Traditional Council are all aware of the business,” Stumpit said.
When contacted, the Permanent Secretary, Adamawa State Ministry for Livestock Development, Dr Sulaiman Aminu, said the ministry was not aware of such activity.
“It is not true, the ministry is not aware of the illicit activity, and no permit was given.
“In fact we have a dedicated unit responsible for the fight against endangered animal species.
“We will investigate the matter and whoever is found wanting would face the wrath of the law,” Sulaiman said.
The Adamawa/Taraba Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has, from 2023 to date, seized and destroyed over 3,712 pieces of donkey hide/skin in accordance with Schedule 15 of NCS Act, 2023.(NAN
