By Abdulaziz Abubakar Damare
The Adamawa State Government has vowed to investigate the alleged operation of illegal donkey slaughtering sites uncovered by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) in Gombi Local Government Area.
The Permanent Secretary of the Adamawa State Ministry for Livestock Development, Dr. Sulaiman Aminu, said the ministry was not aware of the alleged activity and had not issued any permit for the operation of donkey slaughtering sites in the state.
“It is not true. The ministry is not aware of the illicit activity, and no permit was given. We have a dedicated unit responsible for the protection of endangered animal species. We will investigate the matter, and whoever is found wanting will face the wrath of the law,” Aminu said.
The Coordinator of NESREA’s Adamawa Field Office, Mr. Abubakar Aliyu, disclosed in an interview in Yola that the agency uncovered two local abattoirs in Muchalla and Kwanta Muchalla villages in Gombi Local Government Area following a tip-off from residents.
According to Aliyu, the agency found more than 20 workers operating at the sites, where about 50 donkeys are allegedly slaughtered weekly. He said the operators claimed they had obtained permits from the Gombi Local Government Council, the Adamawa State Ministry for Livestock Development and the Gombi Chiefdom.
Aliyu expressed concern over the commercial-scale slaughter of donkeys, warning that the continued killing of the animals could lead to their extinction. He noted that the Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Services (Establishment) Act, 2017, provides strict operational guidelines for donkey slaughtering and abattoir facilities.
Meanwhile, the manager of the slaughtering sites, Mr. ThankGod Stumpit, told NAN that the business had operated for four years with the knowledge of the Gombi Local Government Authority, the police and the Gombi Traditional Council, adding that the operators regularly paid revenue to the local authority.
“We are doing this business with the consent and permission of the Gombi Local Government Authority, and we are paying revenue to the authority. In fact, the state government, the police and the Gombi Traditional Council are all aware of the business,” Stumpit said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Adamawa/Taraba Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has, from 2023 to date, seized and destroyed more than 3,712 pieces of donkey hides and skins in accordance with Schedule 15 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
