
Four persons have been reportedly arrested by the Police for diverting food items meant for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Kastina State.
The Katsina Police Command said on Saturday said that the arrested persons diverted tonnes of rice meant for the IDPs in the North East Zone.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Salisu Agaisa, said in Katsina that the suspects had claimed to be customs agents.
It would be recalled that the Federal Government had directed the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to distribute rice it seized from smugglers to the various IDPs camps.
The Police Spokesman said the suspects were arrested after they offered to sell the commodity to one of the prominent persons in the state.
“One of the suspects had called the prominent person through a mobile phone that they have five trucks of rice for sale.
“Our investigation also shows that the suspects had concluded arrangement to sell a bag of rice to that person at the rate of N12, 500 per bag,” he said.
Agaisa said the suspects were later arrested at Liyafa Palace Hotel in Katsina where they had lodged for 21 days.
He said the suspects would be prosecuted after investigations were completed.