By; ONYEKACHUKWU MELUWA, Warri
The Delta State Chapter of the National Butchers Union of Nigeria on Thursday disclosed that Delta State is now a dumping site for donkey meat otherwise known as “Jackie”.
The Chairman of the Board of Trustee of the Butchers Union, Comrade Toju Awala made the assertion in a chat with newsmen in Pessu Market in Warri South Local Government Area.
Awala who doubles as the Warri Branch Chairman of the Butchers Union said most donkey meat come from Agbor to Warri and Udu Markets as early as 4am every morning.
He lamented that their business is being hampered by persons who deal on donkey meats as well as operate private abattoirs in several parts of the State.
Awala stated that the Delta State Government is not helping matters on the issues even though they’ve written several petitions to the Ministry of Agriculture in Delta State as well as the Warri South Local Government Council to assist in developing an abandoned abbatoir in Pess Market so as to monitor what we people consume.
While noting that the only response they got from the government is that the issue is before the Delta State House for debate whether “Donkey meat is fit for consumption”,Awala said” called on the Government to support the union in fighting those involved in the sales of donkey meats
“Delta State has become a dumping site of Jackie. It is not supposed to be. We are advising them. They should desist from it and those who normally go to the forest and buy from their hand,it is not good for consumption.
“They should desist from it. Come to the abbatoir approved by the Government,public place and buy your meat.”
Awala noted however that they don’t slaughter donkeys in the Government approved abattoir in Pessu Market,Warri.
According to Awala,”We operate in Government Abattoir here. As far as Government abattoir is concerned,we have veterinary doctors on ground who monitor the cows before slaughtering. Even the slaughtering,they monitor it.”
“Those people who deal on Jackie have a private abattoir they operate on.Most Jackie come from Agbor down to Warri to Udu Markets.
“My State Chairman,Comrade Akusu who lives in Agbarho here,we met, we set up a task force on raiding on this issue. We got some group of people along Ughelli road by NEPA there. They have a hide out there. We had to put ourselves together monitor.”
