Authorities in Borno State have apprehended five suspects accused of butchering and selling meat harvested from dead cattle to residents of Maiduguri. Members of the Violent Crime Response Unit, referred to as the Crack Squad, carried out the arrests on July 29, 2026, acting on intelligence gathered regarding illicit activities at the Old Maiduguri Cattle Market.
The detainees are Modu Umar, 43, Abba Mohammed, 24, Adam Abubakar, 21, Faruq Gambo, 19, and Mada Usman, 24. Police reports suggest the group regularly sourced animal carcasses, processed the meat, and funneled it to street vendors who unknowingly sold the unwholesome product to the public.
Law enforcement captured the suspects while they were actively moving a dead cow toward the Morumti area of Maiduguri for processing. Police spokesperson ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso confirmed that an investigation is underway to uncover the breadth of this operation and identify any additional participants.
Commissioner of Police Naziru Abdulmajid denounced the dangerous practice, highlighting the severe health hazards it poses to the community. He pledged that the command would collaborate with government agencies to eliminate the distribution of hazardous meat throughout the state.
