The governor’s directive follows reports that four officials of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) were arrested on Tuesday morning over their alleged theft of food items meant for IDPs at the Bakassi camp in Maiduguri, Borno State.
Angered by the arrest of some officials allegedly involved in the diversion of 50 bags of rice meant for internally displaced persons (IDPs), Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima has asked the Borno State Commissioner of Police to expedite action in the prosecution of anyone arrested with a view to having anyone found guilty sentenced to jail.
Mr. Shettima's directive was made public by his spokesman, Malam Isa Gusau, in a statement emailed to journalists on Wednesday.
The governor’s directive follows reports that four officials of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) were arrested on Tuesday morning over their alleged theft of food items meant for IDPs at the Bakassi camp in Maiduguri, Borno State.
Frustrated by the development, Mr. Shettima vowed to ensure that anyone found wanting amongst those arrested would be tried and sent to prison.
The governor’s spokesman noted that the stolen food items were part of those bought by the Borno State government to feed IDPs throughout the month of December.
"Governor Shettima approved funds for the foodstuff at the IDP camp and he is deeply pained by this development,” Mr. Gusau said. “The governor regards any attempt to divert food meant for IDPs as a crime against humanity which must not go unpunished.
“The governor has promptly asked the Commissioner of Police in Borno State to expedite action that should ensure the prosecution of anyone arrested, whether officials or anybody at all, in order to secure conviction by the court. The governor has told the Commissioner of Police not to entertain any plea from any quarter at all.
“The governor would like the court sentence, if secured at the court, to serve as a warning to whoever might be engaged in shortchanging citizens who live in trauma having lost their loved ones, means of livelihood and their homes as a result of violent attacks by insurgents. The Governor assures internally displaced persons that his administration will continue to take measures that would enhance their welfare.
“As part of these measures, the Bakassi IDP camp, where the incident was said to have occurred, has between 3 to 4 Divisional Police Officers of the respective local government areas living at the camp. The idea of having DPOs and policemen living at IDP camps was one of the measures introduced by Governor Shettima since 2014 in order to maximize security of lives and property as well as the protection of human rights across all IDP camps and other parts of Borno State," the statement said.
The media reported that one official in collaboration with three IDPs were intercepted while allegedly loading fifty bags of 50-kilogram sacks of rice into an waiting truck.
