Lagos Police seize truckload of toxic ponmo, recover chemicals used for preservation


Policemen attached to the Lagos State Police Command have arrested six suspects in possession of allegedly poisonous cow skin (ponmo).

The spokesperson, Lagos State Police Command, DSP Bala Elkana, said in a statement on Sunday in Lagos that the suspects were arrested following a tip-off.

“On May 5, at about 5 a.m, acting on the strength of information from a credible source that a truck load of cow skins, popularly called ponmo, suspected to be poisonous, was offloading at 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 pile of the poisonous ponmo and the chemicals used in their preservation were recovered.

“One TATA Truck with registration number AKD-375-XB which was used in conveying the goods was also impounded.


“Officials of Lagos State Ministry of Health were contacted and after due examination, the cow skin was confirmed to be poisonous and not fit for human consumption.

“Six suspects: Adelowo Yinka 50; Olawumi Onabanjo, 40; Omowumi Wasiu, 43; Adeshokan Taiwo, 43; Iyabo Oluwa, 38; and Taye Kazeem, 40, were arrested in connection with the case,’’ lkana claimed.


He added that the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Zubairu Muazu, assured Lagosians that the Command will continue to protect lives and property of the people.

Muazu also assured that the Command would ensure the preservation of public health and safety as enshrined in the Constitution.

“Investigation is ongoing to ascertain the source and destinations of those poisonous food items, and suspects will be charged to court.’’ he said.