A woman identified as Mrs. Kehinde Raji has been arrested by operatives of the Lagos State Taskforce for allegedly using dangerous chemical agents to process spoiled yam flour into contaminated Elubo Isu, a staple food consumed by many households across the state.
The arrest, which took place on Friday, July 25, was announced by the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab.Wahab disclosed that the operation followed credible intelligence provided by the Chairman of the Elubo Sellers Association, who raised alarm over suspicious food processing practices within the market.
“This morning, we received credible intelligence from the Chairman of Elubo Sellers Association regarding dangerous food adulteration practices within the market,” Wahab said.
“The report indicated that some unscrupulous traders were mixing harmful coloring agents with spoiled yam flour to produce contaminated Elubo Isu for unsuspecting consumers.”
Acting swiftly on the report, operatives from the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) enforcement unit raided the location and caught Mrs. Raji red-handed during the illicit processing activity.Preliminary investigations suggest that several consumers have already suffered health complications allegedly linked to the consumption of the adulterated yam flour.
Commending the market leadership for their vigilance, Wahab stated:> “We commend the market leadership for bringing this critical public health issue to our attention.”He added that Mrs. Raji would be prosecuted under Lagos State laws relating to food safety and consumer protection, reaffirming the government’s zero-tolerance stance on food adulteration and public health endangerment.
