The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Gombe State has paraded 26 six male suspects and sealed 32 shops over the adulteration of palm oil at the state’s main market.

Mr. Michael Wetkas, the zonal head led journalists on a tour of Palm oil Lane, in Modern market, in the state capital on Friday before handing the suspects over to NAFDAC.

He said that the men were arrested by his men after a period of investigation. Wetkas noted that the adulterated oil had an immediate effect on the health of consumers.

“We got intelligence that sellers mix palm oil with very harmful substances. I sent our men to carry out surveillance and we discovered the information was true.

“We caught some of the suspects in the process of mixing the chemicals and I became very worried. We thought it wise to involve other agencies, as you know food security is under the purvey of NAFDAC.

Wetkas called on members of the public to partner with the commission to rid the market off adulterated products.

“On the day we conducted the raid, 32 shops were locked and 26 suspects were also arrested. We were alarmed became some of those agents they use can cause cancer,”  he added

Receiving the suspects from the commission, the state coordinator of NAFDAC, Gonzuk Bedima, who was represented by Laras Jatau, the Assistant Chief Regulatory Officer noted that as an agency that it usually enlightens the traders and did so during the recent World Food Day.

“We educated them and we took the time to explain to them the hazard of deliberate adulteration of produce and the effect of such chemicals.

“It is really surprising that after such lectures someone will still go ahead to adulterate palm oil, this is a crime against humanity,” he said.

In this article: