Counterfeit Pillows: NSCDC Arrests 9 Suspects in Sokoto State

Ismail Umar, Sokoto.

Last updated Dec 30, 2023

The Sokoto State Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested nine persons suspected to be in connection with the production of counterfeit pillows harmful to human health.

The Commandant of the Sokoto State NSCDC Command, Mr Bello Alkali Argungu, who paraded the suspects in Sokoto, noted that the accused men were apprehended by NSCDC officials in different areas in the metropolis.

He said the suspects will be formally charged with the crime once investigations are concluded and urged people to be wary of using counterfeit pillows and beddings.

Use of Contaminated Materials

Commandant Argungu revealed that the pillows were stuffed with contaminated materials, such as used sanitary pads, children’s diapers, clothes, and other wastes sourced from garbages, drainages, and other places.

“They use small children who get them the trash. They fill the pillowcases with it, which they sell to their customers. The pillowcases carry different logos of reputable foam companies.

…They may contract some diseases without knowing the cause. I am appealing to our people to always go for businesses that are legitimate,” he said.

Meanwhile, Alkali presided over the decoration of four hundred and seventy-one (471) newly promoted personnel in the state and charged them to be more dedicated to duty.

He urged the promoted staff to be disciplined and consider their new ranks as motivation for duty.

A Word of Caution

In his remarks, the Special Adviser to Governor Ahmad Aliyu on State Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), Alhaji Tukur Toro, commended the NSCDC’s efforts.

He advised manufacturers of bedding materials to prioritize consumer safety through the enforcement of stringent quality control measures.

According to him, recent investigations had uncovered the presence of waste materials, posing potential health risks, in certain pillows available in the market.

These materials, he noted, may lead to allergic reactions and respiratory issues, particularly in individuals with pre-existing conditions, exposing them to pathogenic infections.

He urged consumers to exercise caution, considering the source and quality of the pillows they purchase.

About the NSCDC

The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) is a paramilitary institution in Nigeria.

Its primary function is to protect lives and properties. One of the crucial functions of the corps is to protect pipelines from vandalism. The agency is also involved in crisis resolutions.