Poisonous Ponmo in Lagos is real. This was confirmed by the arrest of six suspects with a large quantity of the Ponmo suspected to be poisonous.
The arrest was carried out by the Lagos Police Command on May 4, 2019 at about 5.00a.m.
A statement signed by the Command Spokesperson DSP Bala Elkana said the Operatives acted on the strength of a information from a credible source that a truck load of cow skins, popularly called ‘Ponmo‘, suspected to be poisonous were heaped in a warehouse at No. 9 College road, Igando.
A team of Police officers led by the Divisional Police Officer Igando, mobilised to the scene. The huge pillage and pyramid of poisonous Ponmo and the chemicals used in the preservation of the cow skins were recovered.
One TATA Truck with Registration number AKD-375-XB which was used in conveying the goods was impounded.
A test by the Officials of Lagos State Ministry of Health on the cow skins confirmed that they were poisonous and not fit for human consumption.
Six suspects namely; Adelowo Yinka m 50 years of No. 1 Ifelodun Street Agric road Egan truck driver; Olawumi Onabanjo f, 40 years of No. 3 Olunshabiko Street Itere Ogun State; Omowumi Wasiu f, 43years of new site Muwo Badagry; Adeshokan Taiwo ‘m’, 43 years of no fixed address; Iyabo Oluwa f, 38 of Ifelodun Street Igegun Ikotun; and Taye Kazeem m, 40 years of No 11 Disu Street off Ijagemon Road Ijegun Ikotun were arrested in connection with the case.
The Commissioner of Police Lagos State Command, CP Zubairu Muazu mni assured Lagosians that the Police Command is determined to continually protect life and property of the people as well as preservation of public health and safety.
He said investigation is ongoing to ascertain the source and destinations of those poisonous food items. Suspects will be charged to court.