*Vows to punish whoever is involved
*Orders police takeover of affected warehouse
*2 suspects arrested in connection with the scandal
By OUR REPORTER
Governor Abba Kabiru Yusuf has uncovered a warehouse where food items meant for palliatives were being diverted at Sharada industrial estate in the state.
Leading government officials and journalists to the isolated warehouse, Governor Yusuf was conducted round the facility where supposed hijacked food items were kept along drum of chemicals.
The Governor expressed shock and vowed to punish who ever is involved in the scandalous act of diverting the palliative food items consisting of maize and rice. He immediately directed the Commissioner of Police to take over the warehouse and conduct swift investigation to fish out all suspects involved.
The incidence occurred following a tip of Information from some community members in Sharada when discovered suspicious movements of unknown people around the warehouse in question and reported the matter to Sharada police division.
While briefing the Governor on the spot at the warehouse, one of the Sharada community leaders, Mr. Rabiu Amour, said thousands of bags branded with the Governor’s portrait and designed as palliatives were discovered to be re-bagged.
“We know these food items are meant to be distributed to less privileged people, therefore we decided to make a whistle blow. This is our contribution to the good efforts of the Governor, he is trying his best to help the downtrodden but some people within the system are sabotaging him”
Shortly after the inspection, the Governor directed the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Danjuma Mahmoud to brief the media, the commissioner who told journalists that government has discovered an isolated warehouse where released palliatives have been diverted, said investigation has commenced immediately.
Although, the Agric Commissioner disclosed that investigation will further reveal the magnitude of quantity hijacked and diverted to the warehouse, he said the food items are being rebagged and reold in the market.
He said the specific portion of the Rice and Maize being hijacked and diverted to the warehouse are meant to be distributed to people with physical challenge and widows of armed forces and other security agencies in Kano.
Although, the commissioner declined to reveal the identity of the culprits, he confirmed that two suspects have been handed over to the police in connection with the crime. He said government bhas set up investigation team to unravel the root course of the development.
” You will recall that after the official unveiling of distribution of food items meant for the less privilege as palliatives to crushing the impact of fuel subsidy removal, the government later set aside another large portion of the palliatives specifically to be distributed to people with special needs like in the society.
“Besides people with special needs, the last round of palliatives were also meant for families and widows of members of the Armed forces, the Army, Navy, Airforce, police, and that of the sister agencies like Immigration, Prison services, Customs, Civilians defence, Road safety, Hisbah Vigilante.
“Incidentally, the government discovered that several bags of these food items have been hijacked and diverted to a warehouse in Sharada industrial estate where intelligent reports revealed that those food items are being rebagged and to be sold in the market”. The commissioner said.
Kano State Police command has confirmed arrest of one Tasiu Al’amin Roba, a Senior Special Assistant (SSA), to the Governor, attached to Office of the Secretary to the State Government and other person named Abdulkadir Muhammad who are already in police custody at Sharada division.
Following the directive of the Governor, the suspect are expected to be transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further investigation into the matter.
You may recall that the Governor of Kano State Engr. Kabir Yusuf set up a strong Compliance Committee for Palliatives Distribution headed by the Secretary to the State Government and the his Chief of Staff with six other relevant commissioners as members to ensure that all palliatives items get to the right beneficiaries.
While inaugurating the committee, Governor Yusuf emphasized that no political appointee under his government will benefit from the palliatives as it is meant to be distributed to the people who need it the most.
