LAGESC Arrests Suspected Vendor Of Adulterated Yam Flour In Lagos
THECONSCIENCE NG reports that the Operatives of the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) have apprehended a woman suspected of selling adulterated yam flour, locally known as ‘Elubo’, in the Ajelogo area of Lagos State.
The arrest, which occurred on Friday, was prompted by a formal complaint from the Elubo Sellers Association in the Maidan area, who raised concerns about unwholesome products infiltrating the market.
Acting swiftly, LAGESC officers stationed at the Mile 12 market moved in and arrested the suspect, identified as Mrs. Kehinde Raji.
Speaking at the agency’s headquarters in Bolade-Oshodi, the Corps Marshal of LAGESC, Major Olaniyi Olatunbosun Cole (rtd), said the suspect was found with substances suspected to be adulterated yam flour mixed with yam peels.
“Based on credible intelligence from the Elubo Sellers Association, we arrested a vendor allegedly selling adulterated yam flour to unsuspecting consumers at the Mile 12 market,” he stated. “Such unwholesome practices pose serious health risks to the public and contribute to food-related illnesses in Lagos.”
During interrogation, Mrs. Raji denied any wrongdoing, claiming she only deals in Elubo Lafun, a type of fermented cassava flour, not yam flour.
She explained that Elubo Lafun is not typically mixed with any other substance because of its distinct texture and customer expectations.
Mrs. Raji also shared that she joined the elubo trade in 2024 after losing her husband, driven by the need to care for her three children. She said she was drawn to the business due to its profitability.
The Corps Marshal confirmed that samples of the seized products would be forwarded to the Lagos office of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for laboratory analysis. Legal action, he said, would follow based on NAFDAC’s findings and recommendations.
LAGESC reaffirmed its commitment to protecting public health by ensuring all food products sold in the state meet regulatory safety standards. The agency warned that anyone found dealing in adulterated consumables will face full legal consequences.
