By Richard Anyebe
The Nigeria Police Force has arrested 5 suspects in connection with the diversion of bags of wheat belonging to the United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP), and the recovery of about 1,238 bags of wheat in Port-Hacourt, Rivers State.
The arrest and recovery were made on the 6th of February 2024.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Force Spokesman, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi on Sunday.
ACP Adejobi said the force is committed to enforcing all laws and emplacing anti-crime strategies to curb illegal activities at the country’s various ports and around the economic hubs in Nigeria.
He said the commitment is geared towards stimulating the government’s agenda of quick economic recovery and development in the country.
According to him, the 1,840 bags of wheat that were to be transported from Ibeto Port Terminal, Port-Harcourt, to an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp located in Kano State were fraudulently diverted by the drivers tasked with the assignment, alongside their accomplices, who were intercepted and apprehended by the operatives of the Nigeria Police attached to the Eastern Port.
“The operatives made an arrest of five (5) suspects namely Umar Hashim, Edidiong Umoh, Udah Stanley, Abubakar Jariri, and Yunusa Babangida, and recovered 1,238 stolen bags of wheat along with the truck and a bus used in carrying out the crime.
“The recovered bags of wheat have been returned to the World Food Programme, and efforts are in top gear to recover the missing 602 bags of wheat and arrest the other suspects associated with the crime,” the statement reads
The statement noted that the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun re-emphasized the goal of the Nigeria Police to ensure that individuals engaged in activities aimed at sabotaging the economy of the country and entrenching hardships among the vulnerable members of the public are ardently dealt with in line with extant laws.
“He has therefore ordered that the suspects be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations and tying of all loose ends,” the statement added.