Food Trader Arrested In Benin Over Alleged Insecticide Use On Beans

A food trader at Ekiosa Market in Benin City, Edo State, has been arrested for allegedly using a chemical insecticide, commonly known as Sniper, to preserve beans intended for sale to the public.

The suspect was apprehended during a routine enforcement monitoring exercise conducted by the Edo State Consumer Protection Committee, led by its chairman, Comrade Osaro Iyamu.

According to committee officials, the trader was allegedly caught applying the chemical to the produce inside his shop. He was immediately handed over to officers attached to the St. Saviour Police Division for further questioning and custody.

The committee confirmed that samples of the affected beans have been seized and sent for laboratory testing to determine the level of chemical contamination.

Following the arrest, consumer protection authorities issued a stern warning to food vendors against using dangerous chemicals on agricultural produce, emphasising that the investigation into the matter remains ongoing.