Ilorin, Kwara State – On the night of June 4, 2024, at approximately 11:30 PM, the Kwara State Police Anti-Kidnapping Squad, led by Superintendent of Police Olufemi Abraham, apprehended a group of suspects involved in the theft of water treatment chemicals from the Kwara State Ministry of Water Resources.
The report was made by Ajibare Oluwasegun, an investigative journalist from Pristinegist Media.
The arrests were made following a routine patrol near the ministry’s gate, where suspicious activity was observed involving a commercial shuttle bus with registration number ABA804YG.
Despite being instructed to stop, the driver of the bus attempted to evade the police. The patrol team, leveraging their experience, managed to halt the vehicle and discovered it was loaded with stolen chemical materials.
However, the suspects apprehended at the scene included Abdulrasheed Salawudeen, 21; Taiye Issa, 35; Olarewaju Yusuf, 40; Yusuf Abdulwasiu, 46 (a security guard at the ministry); Aro (a plumber with the ministry); Toyin; and Kazeem.
Meanwhile, during the investigation, it was revealed that the syndicate had already stolen 50 bags of chemicals earlier that same day and was intercepted on their third trip.
The alleged mastermind and receiver of the stolen goods, Mr. AbdulKadri Issa Olayiwola, 34, was also identified and taken into custody. The suspects confessed that “Aro,” the plumber, had duplicated the key to the ministry’s store, facilitating the theft.
The stolen chemicals, primarily aluminum sulfate, are essential for ensuring clean and safe drinking water. The estimated value of the stolen inventory is over ₦22 million.
The absence of these chemicals in water treatment processes could have posed significant health risks to the public, including waterborne diseases such as cholera, dysentery, and gastrointestinal infections.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr Victor Olaiya commended his boys and assured the public that thorough investigations would continue to ensure all those involved were brought to justice.
The Kwara State Ministry of Water Resources, headed by Hon. Usman Yunusa Lade, has been struggling to meet its mandate due to internal theft, and this crackdown is expected to improve the ministry’s performance in providing safe and sufficient water to the communities.
