By Samuel
The Federal Government has warned that the wheat seeds carted away by hoodlums from the National Agricultural Seed Council’s warehouse in Bukuru, Jos were poisonous and not fit for human consumption.
A statement by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), cautioned that the seeds had been treated with agrochemicals, in preparation for the next planting season.
Miscreants in the last few days had stormed the warehouse, carting away the food items believed to be hoarded COVID-19 palliatives.
FMARD, however, urged the public to avoid consumption of the seeds, but report any of such to the nearest security agency.
“The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development hereby warns the general public that, the wheat seeds carted away by hoodlums from the National Agricultural Seed Council’s warehouse in Bukuru, Jos, Plateau State are poisonous and NOT fit for human consumption.
“The wheat seeds have been treated with agrochemicals and intended for planting during the forthcoming dry season wheat production.
“The Ministry hereby appeals to the general public NOT to consume these seeds but report any such found to the nearest Security Agency. Please be WARNED,” It said.
In a related development, the Ekiti State government has also warned its residents against consuming food items looted from warehouses within the state.
The Ekiti State Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mr. Akin Omole, and his Agriculture and Food Security counterpart, Dr. Olabode Adetoyi raised the alarm on Saturday.
According to them, the food items are poisonous and therefore, not fit for consumption.
Omole noted that some hoodlums had invaded the warehouses, carting away food items erroneously believed to be palliatives.
He also revealed that the office of the Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) in Ado-Ekiti was looted.
The looters, he added, made away with items such as fertilisers and pre-fermented maize that had been reserved for the next planting season.
In his words: “Unfortunately, the items carted away were Single Super Phosphate and NPK fertilisers, which they erroneously thought was garri.
“The SEMA store too has only emergency supplies for disaster response.
“Some people even made away with pre-fermented corns preserved for planting. All these items are poisonous and not fit for consumption.
“We, therefore, appeal to our people not to consume these items because they can kill.”
