The Anambra State Government on Thursday described the story of a purported restaurant in the state, which serves human flesh as meat to unsuspected customers, as the handiwork of anti-democratic elements.
The State Commissioner for Information, Youth and Culture, Dr. Mary Nwogu, in a statement, made available to journalists in Awka, the state capital, described the story as a “wider smear campaign” by enemies of the state.
The statement read, “The attention of the Anambra State Government has been drawn to a false and malicious report circulating on social media over the purported closure by the Nigerian Police of a restaurant selling human flesh in Anambra State.
“This story, as reprehensible and false as it is, was also published by a national daily, which has since retracted it and apologised, having found it to be untrue.
“The government of Anambra State, having investigated the story and found same to be false, hereby urges Ndi Anambra and friends of the state to ignore the said story as it is part of a wider smear campaign by anti-democratic forces and enemies of progress, who have been attempting to sabotage the fast-paced visible infrastructural and social development going on in the state.
“These individuals, who go by various aliases on social media and on some other media platforms, have continued to feed unsuspecting members of the public with lies about Anambra State in the hope that they will distract the present administration”.
The statement added, “It is instructive that the Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Police, Anambra State Command, Uche Ezeh, had, in an earlier statement to the media, debunked the false story.
“Anambra State, the light of the nation, is open for business and is now the destination of choice in Nigeria for investors looking for a government friendly investment climate, security, large market, attractive return on investment, skilled manpower and supporting infrastructure”.