Community leaders from Shagogo in Donga Local Government Area of Taraba State have leveled serious accusations against the state police command, alleging that they aided a fraudulent cement dealer who embezzled N6.14 million meant for a bulk consignment of cement.
According to the leaders, the community had placed an order for 900 bags of cement on January 14, 2025, at N8,000 per bag, intending to use the materials for church construction projects.
However, upon the truck’s arrival in Donga, an unexpected twist unfolded—the driver refused to deliver the consignment, insisting that payment had been made to the wrong dealer.
Alarmed by the development, the community swiftly reported the case to the policeNigeria Police Force area command, leading to the truck’s interception and detention.
In a further bid to secure justice, the leaders obtained a court injunction from Area 1 Court in Donga, preventing the release of both the truck and its cargo until the matter was fully resolved.
But in a shocking turn of events, the police allegedly defied legal protocols. Speaking to journalists in Jalingo on Sunday, the kindred head of Shagogo, Zaki Terngu Agere, expressed his dismay, stating that despite the legal measures taken, the police unilaterally released the truck and cement without consulting the aggrieved community.
“The transaction was conducted with a known cement marketer in Gboko, Benue State, but upon the truck’s arrival in Donga, the dealer who received N6.14 million via bank transfer switched off all his phone lines. The issue has been causing unrest in the community since January,” Agere lamented.
He further criticized the police’s decision to release the consignment despite an active court order pasted on the vehicle, explicitly restraining its movement. Calling for urgent intervention, he urged the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and other security agencies to ensure that either the cement or the community’s hard-earned money is recovered.
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Reacting to the allegations, Taraba State Police Public Relations Officer, Usman Abdullahi, acknowledged that the matter had indeed been reported to the authorities.
“The matter was reported to the state police command and later transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for proper investigation. The CID obtained an order to release the vehicle to its owner, but we assure the community that we will track down the suspect behind the fraud,” Usman stated.
As tensions simmer in Shagogo, the community awaits justice, hoping for swift action to rectify the situation and hold the alleged fraudster accountable.