Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, yesterday, uncovered a warehouse where food items meant for palliatives were being diverted at Sharaɗa industrial estate in the State.
Leading government officials and newsmen to the isolated warehouse, Governor Yusuf was conducted round the facility where supposed hijacked food items were kept along with drums of chemicals.
The incident occurred following a tip from some community members in Sharaɗa, who discovered suspicious movements of unknown people around the warehouse and reported the matter to Sharada Police division.
While briefing the Governor at the warehouse, a community leader in Sharaɗa, Rabiu Amour, said thousands of bags branded with the Governor’s portrait and designed as palliatives were discovered to be re-bagged.
The Governor expressed shock and vowed to punish those involved in the scandalous act of diverting the palliative food items consisting of maize and rice. He, however, directed the Commissioner of Police to take over the warehouse and conduct an investigation to fish out all suspects involved.
Meanwhile, the Kano Police Command said it has arrested one Tasiu Al’Amin Roba, a Senior Special Assistant (SSA), to the Governor attached to Office of the Secretary to the State Government and another, named AbdulKadir Muhammad, who are already in Police custody at Sharaɗa division.
Following the directive of the Governor, the suspects are expected to be transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further investigation into the matter.
Recall that Governor Yusuf had set up a Compliance Committee for Palliatives Distribution, headed by the Secretary to the State Government and his Chief of Staff, with six other relevant commissioners as members, to ensure that all palliative items get to the right beneficiaries.
