The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has confirmed the arrest of five suspects believed to be members of the syndicate who specialize in the diversion of granular amonium sulphate, the key raw material in the production of fertilizer.
Tv360 understands that the apprehension by the special intelligence squad of the Commandant General of the NSCDC, Abubakar Audi, is in furtherance to the determined effort to thwart notorious moves by saboteurs hell bent to sabotage the Federal Government’s policies in ensuring adequate provision of fertilizers to farmers in the country.
According to the National PRO of the Corps, Afolabi Babawale, the diverted granular ammonium sulphate used in the production of fertilizer is a property of fertilizer producers and suppliers Association of Nigeria ( FEPSAN) but was diverted, bagged and sold by the saboteurs to unsuspected buyers and farmers at the rate of 25,900 naira per bag.
“On the 2nd of September, 2023 at about 1720hrs, the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad, acting on a credible intelligence burst two separate locations; No 3, Dogon Dutse area, Jos North and Kasuwa Kara area, Bukuru all in Jos, Plateau State.
” The Squad succeeded in recovering large quantities of diverted bags of Granular Amonium Sulphate( GAS). The product is meant to be used for the production of fertilizer and to be sold at subsidized rate to the farmers in the Federal Government’s bid to sustain the national food security programme and encourage food production in the country,” Babawale narrated.
The arrested suspects are Ibrahim Muhammed, 63; Ladan Anas, 26; Umar Said Muhammed, 37; Hambale Usman, 46 and Junaid Ubale, 30.
Among the exhibit recovered are 740 bags of prohibited granular amonium sulphate, 24 bags of Urea Dangote fertilizers, 65 bags of indorama fertilizers, 130 bags of NPK Barbados fertilizers, 29 cartons of ultrachol chemical, 109 (20) liters of knapsack spraying pump among other items.
Babawale also disclosed that the Commandant General of the NSCDC, Ahmed Abubakar Audi is in the know of the apprehension and has ordered the immediate transfer of the five suspects and the case files to the National Headquarters of the NSCDC while further investigation is ongoing.
