The Donkey Dealers Association of Nigeria is demanding N1 billion compensation from the Nigeria Customs Service as the agency hands over seized bags of meats to the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS).

The NAQS has since destroyed 414 sacks of meat, valued at N200 million, impounded by the customs in Kebbi on May 19.

On June 14, the comptroller of the customs in Kebbi, Ben Oramalugo, handed over the 414 dried meat sacks to the NAQS.

On May 19, customs seized a truckload of dried meat conveyed to Ochanja Market at Onitsha in Anambra, alleging that the meat was about to be exported to China and other countries.

However, the seizures have sparked an uproar. Businesspeople questioned how dried meat cargo seized by customs operatives on the Koko-Zuru highway could be said to be heading overseas.

The traders similarly disclosed that their goods were confiscated because of their inability to raise about N1.5 million demanded by customs operatives on the highway to allow the vehicle conveying the goods passage to Onitsha.

On Tuesday, the association’s national president, Ikechukwu Aniude, described the seizures as unacceptable and blatant destruction of lives and livelihoods.

“We are demanding an immediate compensation of N1 billion to members of our association whose livelihoods have been ruined for engaging in donkey business to find their daily bread,” stated Mr Aniude. “We also demand a probe of the activities of the NCS command in Kebbi state because this is the only state in Nigeria where donkey meat is being impounded on highways.”

The association leader further stated, “The reasons being given by the comptroller of the customs command in Kebbi are not tenable because no law forbids eating of donkey meat or dealing in businesses in the donkey value chain. Seizing our goods and destroying them on flimsy excuses that donkey meat is being exported to China and other countries is the height of man’s inhumanity to man.”

Mr Aniude pleaded with the federal government to discourage those he described as overzealous security operatives from destroying legitimate means of livelihoods of hard-working Nigerian citizens.

The association president stated that members of the association had lost goods valued at about N400 million since March 8 last year, when customs started its relentless campaign of seizing truckloads of dried meat on highways in Kebbi.

(NAN)