Tension has enveloped Ogun and Lagos states following allegations of the circulation of deadly rice.
Residents have been issuing warnings to loved ones via voice messages, urging them to abstain from purchasing or consuming rice amid claims that a foreign trader invoked a deity’s wrath after two trucks of rice were stolen and smuggled into Nigeria.
According to multiple voice notes obtained by okay.ng, the stolen trucks of rice were smuggled from a neighboring country into Nigeria through the Idiroko and Seme borders. The trader, reportedly a woman, allegedly sought the help of Ogun worshippers in Ghana to curse anyone who consumes or buys the stolen rice.
One voice note alleged that customs officers and a soldier had died in Badagry, Lagos State, after consuming the rice. Another widely circulated message on WhatsApp claimed that over 70 individuals had died in recent days from consuming the same rice.
As rice remains a popular staple food, especially among children and youth, the rumors have caused panic across Ogun and Lagos. Concerned individuals have advised family and friends to avoid rice consumption altogether. In Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State, a resident named Morayo confirmed that parents had visited schools, instructing food vendors not to serve rice to children.
While some residents attempted to dismiss the claims as baseless, more voice notes surfaced, with purported confirmations of deaths linked to the rice, further deepening fears and confusion.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has denied the allegations, assuring the public that there is no truth to the reports of deadly rice in circulation. In a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the NCS Seme Area Command, Isah Sulaiman, the rumors were described as false and misleading.
“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 read.
Sulaiman further emphasized that the NCS adheres to strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in disposing of seized goods, ensuring transparency and compliance with legal 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) are disinforming members of the public with baseless, fictitious, and malicious accusations to score cheap points instead of upholding the social responsibility they are supposed to.”
The NCS urged members of the public to disregard the unsubstantiated claims and to refrain from spreading false information that could incite unnecessary fear or tarnish the reputation of security agencies.
Despite the NCS’s assurances, the rumors have spread to Abeokuta, Ibadan, and other parts of the country, creating widespread panic among rice consumers.
