Nigeria is ranked as the third-highest consumer of dog meat in the world, trailing only South Korea and Vietnam, according to the Dog Friendly Country Index.
That surprising statistic has drawn attention and scrutiny to a practice that many Nigerians may not fully understand or openly discuss. Recently, the BBC’s Ayuba Iliya visited Nigeria’s biggest dog meat market in Dawaki, Plateau State to explore what drives this long-standing but often hidden trade.
Dog meat in Nigeria is commonly referred to as “404” and is eaten in various communities across the country. Dog meat markets and eateries have served local tastes and traditions in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Plateau and Ekiti states for years.
While dog meat is valued by some people for its flavor and is considered to be a delicacy, it is also believed by others to carry certain health benefits, such as giving one more vitality or strength, though these claims are not scientifically supported. It is also playing an important role economically, being a source of income for hunters, traders, and butchers who supply dogs to markets and restaurants.
The industry, however, is essentially unregulated. Dogs are often sourced from across regions, transported in crowded cages without food or water, and slaughtered under conditions that raise serious animal welfare and public health concerns. Because many animals entering the food chain are not vaccinated, diseases such as rabies spread the risk of reaching humans.
However, there have been various calls, especially from concerned activist groups and animal rights organizations, both within the country and globally, for a more regulatory approach towards dog meat trade, or even an outright ban, citing various instances of cruelty, health issues, and lack of food safety standards.
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With the BBC reporting on this topic, the spotlight has been cast on the uncomfortable truth that while the dialogue on the international stage may be shifting with regard to the care for animals and the administration of foodstuffs, there is a localized tradition and force at work which actively defies a simple answer. In the dog meat markets of Nigeria, there is a complex interplay that is occurring in a very conflicted manner.
