By Peter Okutu

ABAKALIKI—EBONYI State government yesterday ordered Abattoir Operators at the Abakaliki abattoir centre to relocate from the area with immediate effect.

The relocation order was consequent upon its nearness to burial grounds located in the environment and the unhygienic nature of the abattoir.

The abattoir has three cemeteries located in the area; one for Christians, the other for Muslims while the third is for pagans. Each of the cemeteries is close to each other.

Addressing newsmen in Abakaliki, the State Commissioner for Environment, Ogodoali Nome described the abattoir as unhygienic, adding that it was wrong for the dealers to be slaughtering meat where cemeteres are located.

He said by slaughtering meat in the area, the meat dealers desecrate the graves where people’s loved ones are being buried on a regular basis.

He stressed that the relocation was necessary for the avoidance of health hazards especially now that there are some epidemic in the state including Lassa fever and cholera.

He directed the Director of Environment in the Ministry, Mr. Simon Arua to institute legal action against the abattoir dealers and threatened to use Police and SSS to sack them if they refused to relocate from the area after the one month ultimatum given to them.