DSS foils diversion of relief materials, arrests four in Taraba

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have raided a private warehouse in Sintali Ward, Jalingo Local Government Area of Taraba state, recovering relief materials reportedly meant for disaster victims and arresting four suspects.

The operation followed intelligence from residents who allegedly observed the movement of relief supplies from government stores to the private warehouse during the night, prompting a security operation.

According to security sources, the recovered items, comprising food supplies and other relief materials worth millions of naira, were believed to have been donated by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre to the Taraba State Emergency Management Agency (TSEMA) for distribution to victims of disasters.

Four persons, including the warehouse owner and three rice traders, were arrested during the operation. The recovered materials have since been moved to the DSS office in Jalingo as investigations continue.

Security sources said investigators were working to establish whether the relief materials were unlawfully diverted from official custody or were being kept at the warehouse for legitimate purposes.

As of the time of filing this report, the Taraba State Emergency Management Agency had not issued an official response to the development, while the DSS was yet to release a statement on the operation.