Rumours that there is lethal rice in circulation are causing tension in some areas of the states of Ogun and Lagos.
Because a foreign businesswoman had summoned the spirit of the Ogun god after her two trucks of rice were stolen and smuggled into Nigeria, parents and family members advise their loved ones via voice recordings not to purchase or eat rice at this period.
The speakers in a number of voice notes that were sent to our correspondent insisted that two trucks of rice were stolen from a bordering nation and then smuggled into Nigeria across the borders of Idiroko and Seme.
According to reports, the woman who owned the bags of rice called some Ogun worshippers in Ghana in order to curse anyone who purchases or eats the purportedly stolen rice.
There were rumours in a voice message that a soldier and many Customs officials had perished in Badagry, Lagos State.
Another WhatsApp sender additionally claimed that more than 70 people had passed away in the previous few days as a result of purchasing or eating the aforementioned rice.
One of the most popular mainstays in Nigeria, particularly among young people and children, is still imported rice from the Benin Republic.
As the warnings continue to reach residents of Ogun and Lagos, they emphasise to their loved ones that rice should not be purchased or consumed at this time.
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On Wednesday, a resident of Ipokia Local Government in Ogun State, Morayo informed our correspondent that some parents had gone to the schools and instructed the food sellers not to sell rice to their kids.
Additional voice notes from other persons reporting their purported confirmation of the deaths appeared while some people attempted to refute the story.
The Nigerian Customs Service in Ogun and Lagos, however, refuted the allegations, stating that there was no lethal rice in use.
In a statement by the NCS, Seme Area Command, Public Relations Officer, Isah Sulaiman, said the narrative was entirely false, misleading, and did not reflect the reality of the matter.
“The attention of the Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Area command, has been drawn to a widely circulated unfounded and baseless allegation claiming that the Command seized and distributed bags of rice without the knowledge of the purported owner, who then allegedly invoked traditional powers leading to the death of individuals, including a soldier at Badagry.
“The command wishes to categorically state that this narrative is entirely false, misleading, and does not reflect the reality of the matter,” the statement said.
It disclosed that the command had always adhered to NCS Standard Operating Procedures for disposing of seized goods, which are guided by transparency, due process, and strict adherence to extant laws and guidelines.
“It is instructive to say that no incident within the Command’s Area of Responsibility or among personnel corroborates the false claims of deaths resulting from rice consumption linked to the NCS.
“Unfortunately, some unscrupulous elements wearing the garment of journalism (a credible profession) to disinform members of the public with baseless, fictitious and malicious accusations to score cheap points instead of the social responsibility they are supposed to uphold,” the command added.
The NCS urged the general public to disregard this “unfounded story and refrain from spreading false information that could incite fear or tarnish the image of the security agencies working tirelessly to safeguard the nation.”
Our correspondent learnt that rumour has spread to Abeokuta, Ibadan, and other states, creating fears among rice consumers.
