Residents of Ogun State have dismissed claims of “deadly rice” circulating in communities within the state, describing the rumours as mere “business gimmick.”
Recently, voice messages were circulated by concerned parents and relatives, warning their loved ones against buying or consuming rice. According to the messages, a foreign trader allegedly invoked the spirit of the ‘Ogun’ deity after two trucks of her rice were stolen and smuggled into Nigeria.
The voice notes claimed that the two trucks of rice were stolen from a neighboring country and smuggled into Nigeria through the Idiroko and Seme borders. Allegedly, the owner of the rice consulted Ogun worshippers in Ghana to lay curses on anyone who buys or consumes the stolen rice.
However, speaking with our correspondence in Abeokuta, a resident of Idiroko, a border town in Ipokia Local Government Area who identified himself simply as Mr. Nicolas, dismissed the claim as a “business gimmick.”
“There is nothing like that at all. In Idiroko here, nobody has died as a result of eating rice,” Mr. Nicolas stated.
Similarly, Mr. Adetayo, a resident of Owode, described the allegation as mere rumour, noting that from Owode to Idiroko, there have been no reports of anyone dying from rice consumption.
Reacting to the rumour, the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) in Lagos and Ogun debunked the claims, stating there was no “deadly rice” in circulation.
In a statement by the NCS Seme Area Command, its Public Relations Officer, Isah Sulaiman, labelled the narrative as entirely false and misleading.
The statement read, “The attention of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, has been drawn to a widely circulated rumour. The Command wishes to categorically state that this narrative is entirely false, misleading, and does not reflect the reality of the matter.”
Sulaiman further clarified that the Command adheres strictly to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the disposal of seized goods, guided by transparency, due process, and strict adherence to extant laws.
“No incident within the Command’s Area of Responsibility (AoR) or among personnel corroborates the false claims of deaths resulting from rice consumption linked to the NCS,” the statement added.
The NCS also criticized those spreading the rumours, accusing them of attempting to tarnish the image of the agency and incite unnecessary fear.
“We urge the general public to disregard this unfounded story and refrain from spreading false information that could incite fear or tarnish the image of security agencies working tirelessly to safeguard the nation,” the statement concluded.
Additionally, the Ogun State Government, through the Senior Special Adviser, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, confirmed there was no evidence of anyone dying after eating rice. He stated, “No hospital report in that regard,” affirming that the rumours were baseless.
