- The Borno State Government warns residents against buying vegetables from flood-affected areas due to contamination with sewage and harmful chemicals
- Nearly 500,000 people have been displaced by the floods, which are the worst in 30 years, raising serious health concerns
The Borno State Government has issued a warning to residents not to buy vegetables from flood-affected areas. These may be contaminated with dead bodies, sewage, and harmful chemicals.
In a statement on its verified Facebook page on Tuesday, the Ministry of Information and Internal Security cautioned the public about the health risks posed by consuming these contaminated vegetables. The government emphasized that the recent flood disaster has introduced harmful substances into the food supply.
“Due to the flood, vegetables from these areas are seriously contaminated with dangerous elements, including sewage, dead bodies, chemicals, and bacteria,” the statement read. “Consuming them can result in serious health problems such as waterborne diseases and food poisoning.”
The ministry advised residents to avoid vegetables from flooded areas and only buy from trusted sources. They also stressed the importance of thoroughly washing vegetables before consumption.
Nearly 500,000 people have been displaced by the flooding, which affected over 1 million people in Maiduguri. The flood, the worst in 30 years, was caused by the collapse of the Alau dam after heavy rainfall. The disaster also wiped out about 80% of the animals at a local zoo, with some managing to escape.
Residents are urged to prioritize their health during this challenging period.