16th July, 2014
The Kebbi Police Command has recovered stolen medical equipment worth N20.8 million and arrested a suspect, Faruk Zaki who is a civil servant in the state Ministry of Health.
Police Public Relations Officer, Kabiru Bawa, told newsmen on Wednesday in Birnin Kebbi that the medical items missing from the store were worth N29.6 million.
“But we have so far recovered equipment worth N20.8 million and the custodian of the equipment is our suspect, while investigation is ongoing,” he said.
Bawa said investigation had revealed that the missing equipment were part of the N2 billion spent by the state government in 2012.
He said the money was spent on the purchase of the equipment for the proposed 200-bed capacity hospital located in Kalgo council.
The Force spokesman said the investigation was jointly conducted by the State Police Command and the State Security Service (SSS).
He said the Police would continue with its investigation until all the missing items were recovered and the culprits prosecuted.
Bawa called on the general public to provide useful information to the state’s security personnel, who he said were always alert in securing lives and property.
He said the suspect who assisted security agencies in the recovery of the missing equipment would be prosecuted because he violated Section 315 of the Criminal Code.