There has been a steady rise in demand for dry and frozen fish, crayfish and eggs
following mysterious death of eight cows at Ekan-Ile area of Ikare, Akoko Northeast local government area of Ondo state on Tuesday.
Many residents of Ikare have shunned cow meat and ponmo (cowhide) in fear of exposure to beef struck by lightning.
They are afraid of eating cow meat because of contaminated beef, reportedly purchased at lower prices from owners of the ill-fated cows, by some butchers.
When our crew visited Oja-Oba, Osele, Okore and Jubilee markets, all in Ikare-Akoko, butchers were experiencing low patronage of cow meat.
Muniru Osuolale, the Deputy Chairman of the Butchers Association, said government directed health officers to fumigate the dead cows.
He added that government cautioned people not to buy beef for now as contaminated cow meat is in circulation.
The Secretary-General to Hausa Community in Akokoland, Tijani Sani described the case as very unfortunate, stressing that government and community leaders ought to have been briefed immediately the incident happened. .
