In Katsina, hungry villagers steal poisonous grains meant for destruction

Members of Ladanawa village in Katsina State have allegedly stolen bags of poisonous grains meant for destruction.

The state Commissioner for Local Government, Abdulkadir Ahmed Zakka, told journalists that a truck carrying 300 bags of grains from the state Agricultural and Rural Development Agency (KTARDA) main store to another location for destruction, broke down in the village while on its way.

However, the hungry villagers came out in their numbers and began to steal from the grains, which had poured out of the bags.

Zakka, who paid a visit to the community, appealed to the villagers not to consume the grains and that they should return it immediately for it to be destroyed. He said security operatives have been mandated to conduct house-to-house search and that anyone found with the poisonous grains will be punished.

Earlier, the Manager of the centre, Muhammad Ibrahim, had told the commissioner that 300 bags of the assorted seeds were evacuated from Katsina State Agricultural and Rural Development Agency (KTARDA) main store to the centre for destruction.

According to him, the vehicle conveying the expired seeds could not get the location where the grains believed to be poisonous were meant for destruction before it broke down on the dilapidated road.

Lawal told the commissioner that his team had solicited the support of traditional rulers and security agencies to stop the people from consuming or selling the expired seed.