Five individuals have been taken into custody by Kebbi State Police Command operations in relation to the diversion and sale of agrochemical products valued at over N184 million that belonged to Springfield Agro Limited, a Lagos-based business.
After the company reported that their shipment of 1,925 cartons of Roundup 360XL herbicide, intended for delivery to Suleja/Abuja, was illegally diverted to Birnin Kebbi, detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department conducted an operation and detained the suspects.
Alhaji Bala, the truck driver who is presently at large, was accused of masterminding the diversion.
Police sources claim that unapproved merchants purchased the pesticide at drastically reduced prices.
In a statement issued by the state Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Nafiu Abubakar, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police on Thursday, the suspects arrested include Nura Abdullahi (45), Nura Muhammad (50), Bashar Abubakar (45), Sanusi Bojo (43), all from Birnin Kebbi town, and Aliyu Muhammad (48) from Kashin Zama village in Aliero Local Government Area.
“We recovered 1,562 cartons of the diverted herbicide and N4.9 million, believed to be proceeds from the illegal sales,” the statement added.
Commending the detectives for their prompt and professional response, Commissioner of Police, CP Bello Sani, directed the Deputy Commissioner in charge of SCID to conduct a discreet investigation and ensure diligent prosecution of the case.
He also urged the officers to intensify efforts to arrest the fleeing suspects, including the truck driver, Alhaji Bala, and one Alhaji Danladi Maitaki, also known as Danbatta.
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