Several audio messages circulating on WhatsApp, a messaging platform, are claiming that cursed rice grains, imported from one of Nigeria’s West African neighbours, are killing residents in Lagos and Ogun states.
In the three audio clips FIJ reviewed on Wednesday, the speakers claim that the cursed rice grains originated from a woman whose trailer of rice was stolen.
They claim that the owner of the trailer, an unidentified woman, had gone to Ghana to consult a deity, and stated that anyone who stole her trailers of rice or bought from them must die.
The audio clips, which have varying lengths, also include claims that 28 people had died in Badagry, including six officers of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS).
Overall, they warned Nigerians not to buy new stock of rice because the cursed food item had flooded the market..
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“It is true. 28 people have died in Badagry, including 6 customs officers,” one of the voice notes addressed to a certain Big Fish reads.
“At Seme, people are dying anyhow. The rice on the stalls now, no one is buying it. It is the previous stock that people are buying. I am not lying to you. Everybody here knows.
“The importation of rice has been suspended. Four other customs officers have also died in Gbaji and Seme.
“People are dying anyhow. They said the woman went to consult an idol in Ghana after one trailer was stolen, and that’s what caused it. Nobody should buy rice....
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