By Olusegun Samuel Precious
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), alongside operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, has launched an investigation following the arrest of a middleman allegedly involved in selling chemical-laced palm oil in Port Harcourt.
The arrest came after a Nigerian chef and his Haitian wife, residing in the Rumuola axis of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, were diagnosed with 86 cancerous growths allegedly linked to consuming adulterated edible oil over a two-year period.
According to family sources, the couple—who relocated to Nigeria in April 2025—purchased 50 liters of what was marketed as pure Akwa Ibom palm oil from a local vendor for N360,000.
Trouble began in February 2026 when both individuals developed severe gastrointestinal complications, chronic constipation, and bowel impaction requiring emergency medical interventions. Subsequent clinical scans and hospital evaluations in Nigeria and Mexico revealed 122 abnormal growths across their vital organs—including the liver, lungs, pancreas, and spine—with medical experts classifying 86 of the tumors as malignant.
Determined to trace the cause, the couple subjected their cooking ingredients to independent laboratory testing in Port Harcourt. The laboratory report, released on Monday, revealed that the palm oil sample was contaminated with toxic non-food substances, including red industrial furniture paint, engine clipper oil, stale cassava starch, and rice water.
Following the laboratory confirmation, police officers apprehended the supplier in Rumuola on Tuesday night. During police interrogation, the suspect confessed to purchasing unrefined palm oil, diluting it with hazardous industrial chemicals and dyes to inflate its volume, and pocketing the logistics fees charged to the couple.
Reacting to the development, NAFDAC reiterated its public warning regarding the rise of food fraud, noting that consuming industrial dyes, toxic pigments, and petroleum-based fluids poses severe risks of irreversible organ damage and cancer.
The law enforcement authorities confirmed that the suspect remains in custody pending prosecution, while health officials have advised residents to purchase edible oils exclusively from verified processors and report suspicious vendors to regulatory agencies.
