The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has uncovered two abattoirs used primarily for the commercial slaughter of donkeys in Gombi Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
The Coordinator of NESREA’s Adamawa Field Office, Abubakar Aliyu, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Yola.
According to Aliyu, the facilities were discovered in Muchalla and Kwanta Muchalla villages following intelligence provided by concerned residents.
“Following a tip-off from 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,” he said.
Aliyu revealed that more than 20 workers operate at the facilities and that investigations showed about 50 donkeys are slaughtered there every week.
He said the operators informed investigators that the facilities were privately owned and that they had obtained permits from the Gombi Local Government Council, the Adamawa State Ministry for Livestock, and the Gombi Chiefdom.
The NESREA coordinator, however, expressed concern over the large-scale commercial slaughter of donkeys, warning that the practice could threaten the survival of the species if left unchecked.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Services (Establishment) Act, 2017 prescribes operational guidelines for donkey slaughter and the operation of abattoirs.
Speaking on behalf of the operators, the manager of the slaughter sites, ThankGod Stumpit, said the business had been in operation for four years.
“We are doing this business with the consent and permission of the Gombi Local Government Authority, and we pay revenue to the council. In fact, the state government, the police and the Gombi Traditional Council are all aware of the business,” he said.
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