Ebola: It's now a 'crime' to sell or consume bush meat in Kogi

The sales and consumption of bats and bush meat have been banned in Kogi state.

Announcing the ban, the State Governor, Idris Wada cited the rising spread of Ebola virus which can be transmitted through the handling of infected wild animals.

He said:"For us in Kogi, we have advised on the halt of sales and consumption of bats and bush meat around the post office area in Lokoja and all the local government areas”

Quite a number of Nigerians are yet to come to terms with the reality of the Ebola virus as many believe it is either a Western invention to exploit Africa through drug sales or a fictitious diseases being popularized through the media.

Reacting to claims in some quarters that Ebola was simply a virus introduced by the West to exploit Africa through drug sales, Gov. Wada said: "Ignorance and disbelief are the leading cause of the spread of Ebola. Reach out to your people in rural areas and share your knowledge with them."

He said that the state has begun a sensitization of health workers who are now going round the rural communities to spreads the message of Ebola while enlightening the populace on possible signs of the virus.