CATTLE RUSTLING: Oche Establishes Central Abattoir, Issue Directives on Registration, Operation of Butchers Association

 

Discovering the unprecedented rate of rustled cattle sales within his administrative territory, Ado Local Government Chairman James Oche has taken crucial steps to quell the menace. To this end, he has taken steps to establish a central abattoir in Etenyi Market and has met with all butchers within Ado.

The meeting which was held over the weekend left the butchers excited with the new development of a consolidated abattoir to be hosted at the Etenyi Market and the directive that all butchers be registered with the Local Government for the formation of a Butchers Association.

Oche explained that the registration of butchers and operation of a central abattoir in Etenyi Market was to distinguish those legally in the business of buying and butchering cattle for commercial purposes and those who were engaged in the illegal sale, purchase and slaughter of cattle.

The Council Boss said, Ado unfortunately had recorded the highest sale of rustled cow which was purchased and capriciously slaughtered in the bush under terrible unhealthy conditions that if the people knew, they would not buy. He explained further that, a by law which was underway would criminalize any purchase and butchering done outside the abattoir where a healthy space for slaughtering was availed. But said the law did not preclude domestic killing of cattle but was for all forms of commercial cattle buying and butchering.

Reacting to the development as communicated by the Chairman at the meeting, Mr Ayaka Enoh, Mr Michael Agasi, Chief Ochima Orinya and Mr Godwin Ogbuloja who spoke on behalf of the butchers in separate remarks expressed joy over the development said it was a long dream come true to have a unified abattoir that previous administrations did not consider.

They said the development would separate the evil ones among them engaged in illegal purchase and butchering of cattle in the bush and would further extricate them from the general presumption that, they were all bad. They appreciated the chairman and promised to be law abiding.

To further show their commitment to the new development, not fewer than 11 of the butchers have paid the prescribed fees and have been registered with the local government and are awaiting the registration of others so that a former association for butchers will be launched.