Butchers in Delta Central Senatorial District of Delta State have called on relevant authorities to put a stop to the unwholesome activities of some persons in the area who specialise in the slaughtering of donkeys and sale of the meat.

The Chairman of Delta State Butchers Union of Nigeria, Delta Central Chapter, Comrade David Akusu, made this appeal when members of the Delta State Consumer Protection Committee led by its Secretary, Mr. Felix Oseji, on behalf of the Chairman of the committee, who is also the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Barr. Mrs. Mary Iyasere, visited them on Tuesday.

Comrade Akusu said that the actions of these unscrupulous individuals does not only pose a health hazard to the people of the area who buy the donkey meat unknowningly, but is also negatively affecting them involved in legitimate business though reduction in the volume of their sales.

He decried a situation where a trailer load of donkeys are slaughtered behind Delta Glass, Agbarho, Ughelli North Local Government Area, within a few days and sold to the people with the attendant health implications.

The Chairman promised that small slaughter houses scattered around the area will be moved to abattoirs inside the markets, just as he appealed to the state and local governments to provide boreholes for them to compliment the ones privately drilled by them.

Responding, the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry assured them that the state government will do the needful to ensure that the health of the people is protected.

Barr. Iyasere advised them to always keep their surroundings clean to avoid contamination of the meat they sell, stressing that on no account should they sell meat that are not good for human consumption to their customers.