Victor EzejaThe Nigeria Police Force has vowed to deploy effective anticrime strategies to stop all forms of illegal activities in the country’s ports and around the economic hubs.
It said this is in line with its commitment towards supporting the federal government’s agenda of quick economic recovery and development of country.
According to a statement released on Sunday by the Force PRO, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, this commitment was re-echoed when the Eastern Port Police Command confirmed the arrest of five suspects in connection with the diversion of bags of wheat belonging to the United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP), and recovery of about 1,238 bags of wheat in Port-Hacourt on 6 February 2024.
According to Adejobi, 1,840 bags of wheat which 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 this assignment, alongside their accomplices.
He said the suspects 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,” Adejobi stated.
“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,” he added.
The Force PRO further said the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun has re-emphasized that 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 seriously 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 lose ends,” Adejobi added.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
