Police arrests suspects who adulterate rice with chaff, sell to public in north east Nigeria

Police in Gombe, north eastern state, Nigeria, says it has in custody two suspects who specialize in adulterating rice and selling to the public.

The police in press statement sent to DDM by Sherif Sa’ad, an assistant superintendant of police, ASP, named the suspects as Bashir Haruna, aged 35, of Dubai quarters, Gombe, and Mohammed Isah, aged 54, of Jibulu quarters, Kumo, Akko LGA of Gombe State.

“Their stock in trade is to mix chaff with rice, re-bag them and sell same to unsuspecting members of the public,” a police source will later explain to the online newspaper outside official statement.

Rice, a common staple in most homes in Nigeria is gradually going out of reach of the common house hold on account high inflation.

High cost of food items is the most common source of inflation in Nigeria like most West African countries.

But explaining this criminal activity of adulterating rice, Sherif said on 24th February 2024, at about 11:00 am, Policemen from Akko Division, acting on credible intelligence, intercepted and arrested the above-mentioned suspects in possession of 57 bags of rice mixed with chaff.

According to him the intention of the suspects was to deceive the public and sell it as rice at market price.

He said, during interrogation, the suspects confessed to have been in the habit of mixing several bags containing the mixture and selling to the public.

The suspects have since been charged to court.

In view of this new trend, the State Commissioner of Police, Hayatu Usman, advised the general public to be wary of such criminal elements and be vigilant when buying grains in sacks to avoid falling prey to such scams.

The state police Command, however assured the public that it will continue to monitor situation in the state’s commodity market with a view to protect people.

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