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President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the police to arrest and make an example of government officials accused of stealing food aid intended for victims of Boko Haram in the North-east Nigeria, the president’s spokesman said yesterday.
“The president has asked the Inspector General of the police to catch some of these alleged thieves, to look out for them and make public examples of them,” Buhari’s spokesman, Garba Shehu, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone.
Public outcry was sparked in April when photos posted on social media appeared to show food aid on sale in shops. The items had logos of aid agencies, leading many to believe they had been diverted by state officials in camps for the displaced.
Hundreds of people displaced by Boko Haram militants last week left their camps to stage a protest in Maiduguri, Borno’s capital, to demand more aid, accusing officials of stealing food rations.
However, the government of Borno State dismissed the allegations of theft, and said they were politically motivated ahead of general and presidential elections in 2019.
“There are some politicians exploiting the IDP (internally displaced persons) situation for political purposes, by spreading rumours about food stealing,” said Isa Gusau, spokesman for the state governor, Kashim Shettima.
“The president has asked the Inspector General of the police to catch some of these alleged thieves, to look out for them and make public examples of them,” Buhari’s spokesman, Garba Shehu, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone.
Public outcry was sparked in April when photos posted on social media appeared to show food aid on sale in shops. The items had logos of aid agencies, leading many to believe they had been diverted by state officials in camps for the displaced.
Hundreds of people displaced by Boko Haram militants last week left their camps to stage a protest in Maiduguri, Borno’s capital, to demand more aid, accusing officials of stealing food rations.
However, the government of Borno State dismissed the allegations of theft, and said they were politically motivated ahead of general and presidential elections in 2019.
“There are some politicians exploiting the IDP (internally displaced persons) situation for political purposes, by spreading rumours about food stealing,” said Isa Gusau, spokesman for the state governor, Kashim Shettima.