Many residents of Ebubu in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State had dug up several tonnes of contaminated chicken which was seized from smugglers and buried by the officials of the Nigerian Customs.
The process took place on Saturday, October 31, 2015 and rolled over to November 1, 2015 near the Trailer Park in the area, according to reports.
The scavengers, among whom were youths, women and children, stormed the burrow pit with shovels, pans, basins and buckets to cart their loot home.
It was gathered that the Customs had on Friday, October 30, 2015 impounded many cartons of frozen poultry foods at the Onne Ports.
Sources who witnessed the event said the chicken were brought in six containers by the customs officials who emptied and buried them in the pit.
When the residents caught a wave of the development, they decided to maximize the opportunity and so, proceeded to dig up the pit to exhume the buried chicken.
A visit to many homes around the area on Sunday, November 1, 2015 showed most of them barbecuing their chicken for either consumption or for sale.
One of the homes had a full length refrigerator stocked fully with roasted chicken, while they invited guests to enjoy with them.
Following the dangers involved in the actions of the residents, the Archbishop of the popular Commonwealth Covenant Church, the Most Rev. Moses Kattey, warned the congregation on Sunday, November 1, 2015 to desist from eating chicken for at least two weeks.
He said: “A very mighty hole was dug and trailers of cartons of chicken were buried by govt for health reasons. People have gone there with shovels to exhume the meat to sell. Warn your people please not to buy frozen or fried chicken next 2 weeks. They are poisonous. This happened here in Eleme but can be sold anywhere.”
A resident of the area, Mr. Friday Lewa Goya, said, “We saw scores of people in Eleme/Onne axis (just before trailer Park) carrying raffia bags full of exhumed ‘frozen’ chickens and turkey. The Nigerian Customs buried them yesterday after seizing them from the importers.
“Please if you live in Rivers state, especially in Onne area cascade this post. you might also want to stay off frozen poultry for a while.”
A few other residents however said there was no health hazard with the poultry.
Mr. Lasbrey Iriaka said the poultry was confiscated not because it had expired or because it posed health hazard.
He said: “It was seized from importers because it is contraband. The customs men even diverted one container themselves. So who is fooling who?”
Below are some of the photos. (Click on any image to enlarge).
