Police impound 911 truck loaded with 300 bags of CBN-branded fertilizer in Cross River

The Police command in Cross River State has impounded a 911 truck loaded with 300 bags of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)b branded fertilizers.

The items were impounded at Ndok junction in Obubra Local Government Area of Cross River State.

The truck and the three suspects are currently cooling their heels in Ogoja Divisional Police Station.

Police source in the area hinted DAILY POST that the product was heading to Yala Local Government Area when Divisional Police Officer (DPO) got a call and immediately assembled a patrol team that arrested the suspects and impounded the vehicle.

An eyewitness who pleaded that her name should not mentioned, said the fertilizers have CBN inscriptions on them which means it was government fertilizer meant for farmers.

“The fertilizers are branded with CBN mark. While it was being conveyed, we got whistle from Nigerians and we went after them, arrested the suspects and impounded the truck. The suspects: the driver and two other persons,” she stated.

When DAILY POST contacted the Special Adviser (SA) to the Governor on Agriculture, Mr Emmanuel Anoh, he confirmed that the fertilizer was government-owned meant for farmers in the area.

“The Federal Government program meant to assist the farmers, improve their yield, instead of the farmers using it they sold it” the SA lamented.

“The farmers got it from government and sold it to marketers who are planning to take it to unknown destination for re-bag and sold it again to farmers at outrageous prices” he noted.

He said that the item was meant for farmers for cultivation in their farms, improved their yield and harvests so that their products would increase and their livelihood would be better.

“That was the intention of government but when people go and sell the fertilizer or carry what was meant for farmers and trade, they are working against government policy.

“They become enemies of progress in the society.

“If any person who claimshe is a farmer collected this item and does not use them for farming purposes, he is an enemy of progress.

According to him, “It is better for such people to allow farmers collect this item so that they can improve the agricultural sector because it is when their production is increased, that will also affect and improve the GDP in Nigeria.

“If you look at it carefully, you will realise that this fertilizer we are talking about is a special branded fertilizer, the mark of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is imbued on them, which indicates that the fertilizer is not meant for sale.

“It is meant to be given to farmers to work for their farms but they still go around buying it, so that they can repackage it in different sizes and resell with a view to making outrageous profit.

“This should not be allowed in Nigeria, such persons are criminals. What we are saying is that people should support government to help the masses so that they would have an improve economy,” he stated.

When contacted on Thursday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ms Irene Ugbo confirmed the story, saying that the suspects are in Police custody while the impounded truck is kept at Ogoja.

“The truck was impounded and the suspects are still in our custody. Investigations is continuing” she told our reporter on phone