Police recover over 1,000 diverted UN wheat bags, arrest suspects
Suspects
The Nigeria Police Force, Eastern Ports Command, has recovered 1,238 bags of wheat and arrested five suspects involved in the diversion of 1,840 bags of wheat belonging to the United Nations World Food Programme.
The bags of wheat were reportedly stolen from the Ibeto Port Terminal in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and were being transported to an undisclosed destination in Kano State when operatives intercepted the suspects.
The Commissioner of Police, Eastern Ports Command, Jimoh Moshood, revealed this during a press briefing on Thursday.
Moshood noted that efforts are underway to apprehend two other drivers and additional suspects linked to the crime.
He added that the suspects have been charged to court.
He said, “The case involves conspiracy, stealing, and the diversion of 1,840 bags of wheat belonging to the United Nations World Food Programme, Nigeria, from Ibeto Port Terminal, Port Harcourt, to Kano State in two trucks.
“During the investigation, 1,238 bags were recovered and have been released to the World Food Programme. Five suspects were arrested in connection with the crime, while a trailer and a bus used in the commission of the crime are in police custody.”
Moshood stated that efforts were being intensified to recover the remaining 602 bags of wheat and to arrest the two drivers who diverted the goods, along with other suspects still at large.
“Investigation revealed that 602 bags of wheat are still missing, and we are intensifying efforts to recover them. Five suspects have been arrested, and a trailer and a bus used in committing the crime are in our custody,” Moshood said.
The Commissioner added that the Command had arrested and prosecuted 33 other suspects for various offences across the divisions under its jurisdiction, including Onne, Rivers, Warri, and Calabar Ports.
He said, “Apart from the five suspects mentioned earlier, the Command arrested, investigated, and prosecuted 33 suspects for various offences across the four divisions of Onne, Rivers, Warri, and Calabar Ports. Most of them are currently in the custody of the Correctional Service, while their prosecution is ongoing.”
