Man arrested over alleged diversion of 900 bags of cement in Kwara

The Kwara State Police Command has arrested a 25-year-old suspect in connection with the alleged hijacking and diversion of a truckload of cement in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. The goods, valued at N8 million, have raised fresh concerns over supply chain fraud in Nigeria’s haulage industry. The suspect, Bashiru Suleiman, was apprehended after days […]

The Kwara State Police Command has arrested a 25-year-old suspect in connection with the alleged hijacking and diversion of a truckload of cement in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

The goods, valued at N8 million, have raised fresh concerns over supply chain fraud in Nigeria’s haulage industry.

The suspect, Bashiru Suleiman, was apprehended after days of coordinated intelligence-led operations by officers of the command in collaboration with the security unit of BUA Cement.

The police said Suleiman posed as an engineer and fraudulently took possession of 900 bags of cement meant for a business in Ilorin.

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According to the Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, during a briefing, the incident began on May 9 when the Ilorin Branch Sales Manager of BUA Cement, Abajigin Opeyemi, reported a breach of trust and diversion involving a company-assigned truck en route from Sokoto to Ilorin.

 “The truck, bearing registration number MRD 147 XA, was manned by a driver, Nasir Umar, and his assistant. Upon arrival in Kwara State on May 14, the driver was reportedly linked up through the supposed buyer with a man who identified himself as Engr. Abdulrahman.

“Not long after contact was made, the phones of the driver, his assistant, and the alleged buyer became unreachable. The truck vanished soon after,” he added.