The Department of State Services (DSS) in Taraba State has reportedly arrested a warehouse owner and three other individuals over the diversion of humanitarian relief materials donated to the state by Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSRelief) for distribution to poor and vulnerable residents.
The arrests reportedly took place at a private warehouse in Sintali Ward, Jalingo Local Government Area of Taraba State, where a truckload of relief items, including rice, white beans and other essential supplies, had allegedly been offloaded.
Sources familiar with the incident that the materials were intended for distribution to vulnerable households and communities across the state as part of a humanitarian intervention by the Saudi-based organisation.
However, the items were taken to a private warehouse in circumstances that prompted the intervention of the DSS.
A video obtained shows utility vehicles believed to belong to the DSS, including Hilux vehicles, at the location as bags of relief materials were being loaded for removal.
Some of the bags visible in the video bear the inscription, “Not for Sale,” indicating that the materials were not intended for commercial sale.
Sources present at the warehouse said that the Hilux vehicles belonged to the DSS and that the relief materials were being transported to the agency’s headquarters in Jalingo.
The sources said the DSS took action following the discovery of the materials at a private warehouse, after the media reported allegations that the Taraba State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) boss diverted relief materials and used funds meant for humanitarian purposes to pay his daughter’s medical bills in Abuja.
The report was followed by the reported arrest of the warehouse owner and three other individuals.
Meanwhile, the reported incident comes months after the Taraba State Emergency Management Agency, in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), officially flagged off the distribution of humanitarian relief materials donated by KSRelief to disaster victims and vulnerable communities across the state.
The flag-off ceremony was held in Jalingo with the materials earmarked for victims of fire disasters, flooding and windstorms, as well as vulnerable households and communities across Taraba State.
The event brought together senior government officials, representatives of the Taraba State Government, security agencies, traditional institutions, representatives of local government chairmen, development partners and other stakeholders involved in humanitarian assistance and social protection.
The intervention was intended to provide support to residents affected by disasters and households facing hardship across the state.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Executive Secretary of TSEMA, Dr. Echuseh Audu, expressed appreciation to King Salman and the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre for what she described as a generous humanitarian intervention.
Audu also commended Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, for his commitment to the welfare of vulnerable citizens.
