Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), on Tuesday, arrested some officials of the Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency (NASEMA) diverting palliatives meant for the citizens to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal.
The palliatives are those received from the federal government to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal.
The suspects were arrested longside their accomplices at a popular market in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital where the items were being resold.
Spokesman of the DSS, Peter Afunanya, who disclosed the development to journalists in Abuja, said some of the diverted items were recovered from the suspects.
Afunanya called on members of the public who may have information relating to the emerging trend to report the same to the relevant security agencies for necessary action, saying the culprits would be punished according to laws.
“The Department of State Services (DSS) has received reports from some State Governments relating to diversion or sale of palliatives meant for their citizens.
“Consequently, the Service undertook investigations in that regard and has recovered some of the items as well as apprehended the suspects,” the DSS spokesman noted.
He noted that while their operation was ongoing in other states, the service had already intercepted a suspected criminal syndicate in Nasarawa State responsible for the diversion and sale of the palliatives meant for the vulnerable in the place.
