The consumption of dog meat, popularly called '404', has claimed the lives of not less than five people at Woji, Obio/Akpor local government area of Rivers State.
The death of the men, according to report, has been described as mysterious as this is not the first time they have eaten the meat usually prepared by an Akwa Ibom man known as Friday Dickson, alias Itiaba, who has been in the business of preparing the delicacy for years at Mini-Woji Road at Woji Town.
A member of the community, Brain Ogbondah, himself a consumer of the 404 meat, confirmed to newsmen that the five people died shortly after they ate the dog meat prepared by Itiaba, while many others have taken ill as a result of the meat.
Ogbondah said the situation has mounted tension in the community, resulting in an emergency meeting by the council of chiefs and elders, with a view to locating other members of the community who also ate the dog meat.
Meanwhile, Itiaba is said to have fled the community to an unknown destination as the police has declared a man-hunt for him.