The Borno State Police Command has arrested five men for allegedly processing and distributing meat from dead cattle to vendors for sale to unsuspecting members of the public in Maiduguri.
The development was revealed in a statement issued on Monday by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso Anipr.
According to the statement, the arrests were part of the Command’s ongoing efforts to protect public health, ensure food safety, and crack down on practices capable of endangering residents.
The statement disclosed that operatives of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit, also known as the Crack Squad, acted on credible intelligence and raided the Old Maiduguri Cattle Market on July 29, 2026, at about 8:00 a.m., leading to the arrest of the suspects.
Those arrested were identified as 43-year-old Modu Umar, Abba Mohammed, 24, Adam Abubakar, 21, Faruq Gambo, 19, and Mada Usman, 24.
Preliminary investigations, according to the police, showed that the suspects allegedly conspired to obtain cattle that had died, butcher the carcasses, and supply the meat to roadside vendors for resale to unsuspecting consumers.
Police further disclosed that the suspects were allegedly found with the carcass of a dead cow, which they were reportedly transporting to the Morumti area of Maiduguri for processing before distribution.
The suspects are currently in police custody while investigations continue to determine the full extent of the alleged operation, identify others involved in the distribution network, and make further arrests. They will be charged to court upon the conclusion of the investigation.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Abdulmajid, condemned the alleged practice, describing it as a serious threat to public health. He assured residents that the Command would continue working with relevant government agencies and stakeholders to prevent the sale and consumption of unsafe meat across the state.
As part of preventive measures, the police said the Commissioner will convene a meeting with abattoir operators, butchers’ associations, livestock dealers, meat vendors, regulatory authorities, and other stakeholders to strengthen monitoring, improve compliance with food safety standards, and prevent a recurrence.
The Command also urged residents, particularly meat vendors and consumers, to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities relating to the slaughter, processing, transportation, or sale of meat to the nearest police station or relevant regulatory authorities.
The Borno State Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives, safeguarding public health, and working closely with communities and relevant agencies to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all residents.
