An unapproved herbal mixture factory at Adebola, Ibadan, Oyo State, was on Friday sealed off by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
It was gathered that the illegal factory was producing concoctions meant for the treatment of malaria, body ache and hypertension, among others.
Even though there was no formal approval from the regulatory agency, the herbal mix was being distributed across major cities in the country.
The herbal mix has been in circulation for over five years, according to the factory operator in an interview with journalists.
He, however, confirmed that he had yet to perfect all necessary documents with NAFDAC.
Reacting, the Zonal Director of NAFDAC, Roseline Ajayi, expressed concern about the development.
Ajayi, who explained that the agency was alerted by some concerned Nigerians, added that the suspect had no pending application before NAFDAC.
She said, “The premises of the unauthorised factory has been sealed by NAFDAC officials, while the suspect has been handed over to the police for prosecution.”
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In another news, the Edo State Police Command has arrested three suspected members of a cult in Benin, the state capital.
A statement on Friday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, said the suspects, Bright Amadin, 34; Brown Amadin 29; and Stanley Omoregie, 27, were arrested where they converged to “forcefully initiate innocent citizens in order to mark their anniversary.”
He added that one pump-action gun, three live cartridges, and some clothes with ‘manphite’ insignia were recovered from the suspects.
The statement read in part, “On May 11, 2023, the officer-in-charge of the Command Intelligence Rapid Response Squad received information that some cultists, who were members of the manphite secret cult confraternity, planned to converge on an undisclosed location in Benin City to carry out an attack on their perceived rival secret cult members and to forcefully initiate innocent citizens in order to mark their anniversary.
“Immediately, the operatives commenced technical intelligence in order to foil their plans, and on May 12, 2023, around 2.30am, the operatives arrested three of the members at Okabere community, Upper Sakponba Road, Benin City.”
He said the suspects confessed to being members of the manphite cult, adding that efforts were ongoing to arrest fleeing members of the gang and charge the suspects.