Police arrest drivers for diverting UN’s food, recover over 1,000 bags of wheat

Policemen attached to the Eastern Ports Command have arrested at least five drivers who allegedly diverted 1,840 bags of wheat belonging to United Nations World Food programme (WFP).

According to the Police, the drivers were transporting the bags of wheat to an undisclosed destination in Kano State when they were nabbed.

The items were reportedly stolen from Ibeto Port Terminal in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The Commissioner of Police in the Command, Jimoh Moshood, who disclosed this to journalists at a press briefing, said they had launched manhunt for two other drivers and other suspects in connection with the crime.

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Moshood told newsmen that launching manhunt for other suspects, who are still at large, became imperative because no fewer than 602 bags of wheat were still missing after thorough investigations were carried out.

The senior police officer also revealed that two long trucks and a bus used to commit the crime had been impounded by the operatives, adding that the suspects had already been charged and remanded in prison.

“The case of conspiracy, stealing and diversion of 1,840 bags of wheat belonging to United Nations World Food program (WFP), Nigeria from IBETO PORT TERMINAL Port-Harcourt to Kano State in two trucks.

“During investigation, 1,238 bags were recovered and have been released to the World Food Programme. Five suspects were arrested in connection with the crime, a trailer and a bus used for the commission of the crime are in Police custody.

“Investigation is being intensified to recover the remaining 602 bags of wheat, arrest the two drivers who diverted the goods and other Suspects still at large,” the senior cop told journalists at the briefing.

The CP listed the names of the suspects as Umar Hasim, Edidion Umoh, Uduah Stanley, Abubakar Jariri and Yunusa Babangida, adding that the Command arrested, investigated and prosecuted 33 other suspects for various offences across the 4 divisions of Onne, Rivers, Warri and Calabar Ports.