A viral video circulating on social media has sparked outrage after two women were allegedly caught attempting to grind spoiled pepper infested with maggots at Mile 12 Market in Lagos.
The footage, shared on Wednesday by TikTok user
flakesberry247, allegedly showed the women bringing rotten pepper from home to be processed into paste for soups and stews.
In the video, one of the women was seen surrounded by a crowd after reportedly being apprehended, while the second suspect allegedly escaped before she could be caught.
The clip also showed a bucket said to contain pepper crawling with maggots, triggering angry reactions and widespread concern online over food hygiene and safety standards.
Reacting to the incident, the TikTok user who identified herself as a food vendor stressed the importance of maintaining proper food safety practices.
“My foods are expensive to some to be a street food price, yes I know and God aligned me with customers that understand the reason for that. I choose carefully ingredients I use in cooking. I’m a health-conscious food vendor, I care about myself, kids, families, friends and customers’ health,” she wrote.
She further urged Nigerians to be more cautious about what they consume outside their homes.
“We all really need to be careful about eating outside these days. I am a food vendor and I’ll never cook what I cannot eat,” she added.
Mile 12 Market is one of Lagos’ largest food markets and serves as a major distribution hub for pepper, tomatoes, and onions across Nigeria and parts of West Africa.
The incident has since generated widespread reactions on social media, with many Nigerians expressing disgust and calling for stricter hygiene monitoring and enforcement in public markets.
