Police arrest four suspects for ‘stealing relief materials’ donated to Maiduguri flood victims

The Borno state police command says it has arrested four suspects for allegedly stealing relief materials donated to victims of flood in Maiduguri, the capital.

The suspects are Abubakar Usman, 32, Mohammed Bukar, 37, Ibrahim Abubakar, 28, and Jamilu Mohammed, 24.

The flood, which occurred on September 10, displaced thousands of residents from the Fori, Galtimari, Gwange, and Bulabulin areas of Maiduguri.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reported that over 30 people died and more than 400,000 were displaced by the flood in Maiduguri.

Following the disaster, the Borno state government received donations of money and relief materials from the federal government, various organisations, and private individuals to assist the flood victims.

Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, Daso Nahum, Borno police spokesperson, revealed that the suspects had stolen the relief materials from a distribution centre at Babagana Wakil Memorial Primary School, Maiduguri.

According to Nahum, the stolen items include six bags of 25kg rice, six blankets, two cartons of macaroni, six mats, and three mosquito nets.

He added that the suspects had confessed to the crime and would soon be charged in court.

Similarly, the police command also arrested many persons for allegedly looting submerged buildings in Maiduguri.

“On the 12th of September, 2024, at about 11:00 am, the command, acting on credible intelligence, arrested one Abdullahi Hamza, 19 years, at a shop which was submerged by flood in the Post Office area of Maiduguri, Nahum added.

“The suspect was found in possession of the following stolen items: Two (2) HP desktop computers, Two (2) Scanners, One (1) Printer, One (1) AC unserviceable stabiliser, One (1) Computer mouse and a charger.

“The suspect has confessed to the crime and will be charged to court for prosecution.”

He said during a joint patrol at Kasuwan Shanu, Muna, Malakiyari, and Alkome areas, several persons were caught with “stolen items” from houses submerged by floodwaters.

“Mustapha Jibrin was found in possession of one royal foam mattress, Mohammed Abdullahi with one Samsung iPad and one goat, Bukar Muhammed with a concealed bucket filled with rice, Abubakar Muhammed with one 32-inch LCD TV, and Muhammed Mustapha Kachala with one 32-inch LCD TV. Haliru Ibrahim was caught attempting to break into a shop,” Nahum said.