NCDC arrests 3 suspects with 101 bags of adulterated fertilizer in Ebonyi

The Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) has arrested three suspects (names withheld) with 101 bags of adulterated fertilizer in Ebonyi.

The NSCDC State Commandant, Lucy Samu, while parading the suspects, said they were arrested at the popular Hosanna motor park in Abakaliki with the products.

Samu represented by Mr Paul Odimba, the command’s Public Relation Officer (PRO) said that the suspects were arrested through a tip-off.

“They sell such adulterated products to unsuspecting members of the public and the arrest is in line with the corps’ mandate of protecting lives and public infrastructure in the country.

“The command assures the public that the matter will be thoroughly investigated and the culprits alongside their sponsors prosecuted according to law,” he said.

Mrs Emerald UdeAkaji, Special Assistant to Gov. David Umahi on Fertilizer Development, said during the parade, that the suspects violated the law recently assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari on fertilizer adulteration.

Ude-Akaji, the Acting General Manager of Ebonyi Fertilizer and Chemical Company, said that the governor ‘stepped down’ the law by instructing her to ‘constitute’ a taskforce to check fertilizer adulteration.

“The task-force, is therefore, empowered to ‘fish out’ individuals who adulterate fertilizers in the zone and the arrest will make the public know that such adulterated products do not come from us,” she said.

The governor’s aide said that genuine fertilizer products must have four components: Diamonous Phosphate (DAP), Mornate of Potash (MOP) urea and limestone.

“The fertilizers seized from the suspects only contain urea and limestone and this will have adverse effects on the crop yield of farmers.

“When farmers use such product on their crops, it will deceptively appear greenish and fresh but will never yield fruits,” she said.

One of the suspects told NAN that they were not part of the products adulteration, but were only ‘loaders’ of various forms of items at the park. (NAN)