Sule to DSS: Don’t Spare State Officials Diverting Palliatives

Igbawase Ukumba in Lafia

Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, yesterday, told the Department of State Services (DSS) not to spare officials of the State Emergency Management Agency (NASEMA) arrested for allegedly diverting relief materials of the state.

The Nasarawa State Command of the DSS had recently intercepted a suspected criminal syndicate responsible for diversion and sales of palliatives meant for distribution to the vulnerable in the state.

However, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Governor Sule on Public Affairs, Peter Ahemba, the governor said he received with sense of satisfaction, the arrest of the officials of NASEMA diverting federal government’s palliatives for the state.

He therefore, maintained that he would not condone any act of indiscipline and criminality from any official of the government.

The statement stated: “As Chairman of the North Central Governors’ Forum, Governor Sule is poised to support the DSS in casting its dragnet widely and getting to the root of the activities of this nefarious syndicate, so that those found wanting are meant to face the full wrath of the law, no matter how highly placed.

“The Nasarawa State governor is ready to support the DSS and the judiciary in ensuring that, those among our citizens in Nasarawa State, who might be found wanting at the end of investigation are punished accordingly, to serve as deterrent to other criminal minded public officials.”

According to him, some of the state officials arrested were alleged to be part of a nationwide syndicate that specialised in diverting relief materials donated by NEMA for distribution to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and victims of flood in the state.

“The Governor, therefore, notes that it is unfortunate that, while the federal and state governments are working relentlessly to alleviate the hardship being faced by the victims, some government officials will shamelessly collude with criminal elements and get involved in the diversion and sales of the relief materials.”