Operatives of the Kebbi State Police Command have arrested five suspects linked with the unlawful diversion and sale of agrochemical products worth over N184 million, belonging to Springfield Agro Limited, a Lagos-based company.
The arrests followed a detailed investigation by operatives of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) after the company lodged a complaint regarding a missing shipment of 1,925 cartons of Roundup 360XL herbicide.
The consignment, which was en route to Suleja and Abuja, was allegedly diverted and offloaded in Birnin Kebbi.
The truck driver, identified as Alhaji Bala, was alleged to have masterminded the diversion and is currently at large.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the herbicide was sold at significantly reduced prices to unauthorised dealers.
Acting on intelligence, detectives moved in and successfully recovered 1,562 cartons of the herbicide and seized N4.9 million suspected to be proceeds from the illegal sales.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Nafiu Abubakar, confirmed the development in a statement on Thursday.
He named the suspects as Nura Abdullahi (45), Nura Muhammad (50), Bashar Abubakar (45), Sanusi Bojo (43), all residents of Birnin Kebbi, and Aliyu Muhammad (48) from Kashin Zama in Aliero Local Government Area.
“We recovered 1,562 cartons of the diverted herbicide and N4.9m, believed to be proceeds from the illegal sales,” CSP Abubakar revealed.
Commending the detectives for their prompt and professional response, Commissioner of Police, Bello M. Sani, directed the Deputy Commissioner in charge of SCID to conduct a discreet investigation and ensure diligent prosecution of the case.
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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.
The case, which involves multiple charges including criminal conspiracy, theft, receiving stolen property, and money laundering, remains under investigation.
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