Troops of Forward Operations Base in Potiskum, Yobe State, have arrested a 40-year-old man, Mallam Auwal Sule, for attempting to smuggle farm machinery recently distributed by the state government, out of the state.
In a statement on Sunday, Special Adviser to Yobe state Governor on Security Matters, Brigadier General Dahiru Abdulsalm, (retd), said the suspect was arrested while trying to take the items to Kano State.
The suspect was arrested in possession of 11 seed planters which he claimed to have bought from some beneficiaries of the Yobe State Government Agric Empowerment program at the rate of N40,000.00 per item at his shop in Babban Kasuwa, Potiskum.
Abdulsalm said “The suspect and recovered items have been handed over to NSCDC for further action.”
The Yobe state government had on July 19, 2024, launched the Mega Agricultural Empowerment program for 5,340 farmers selected from the 178 wards in the state.
The project launched by the Vice President, Kashim Shettima was aimed at revitalising the agricultural sector in the state.
The state governor, Mai Mala Buni, warned against sabotaging government’s efforts aimed at transforming the sector.
“Let me warn in strong terms that the government would not tolerate any act of sabotage to frustrate our commitments to make agriculture attractive, profitable, sustainable and economically viable and, to guarantee food sufficiency and food security in the state.
“Therefore, the government would deal ruthlessly with any official, individual or group who tests our will in this regard.
“I hereby direct the security agencies to arrest and impound tractors and other machines crossing the border lines of the state, while such saboteurs are made to face the full wrath of the law,” he warned.