Probe claims of relief materials diversion, Saraki tells government

Senate President Bukola Saraki wants security agencies and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, to investigate allegations that relief materials meant for internally displaced persons (IDPs) were being diverted by officials.

“Such reports are totally unacceptable. The Inspector General of Police (IGP) must immediately take action and bring all those that have carted away relief materials meant for the people of the North East to book,” he said.

Saraki, who spoke yesterday in Abuja when he received a team from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), thanked the global agency for its assistance to millions of IDPs in the North East despite last Thursday’s attack on its convoy where two aid workers, a contractor and two soldiers were injured.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, the Senate President said: “UNICEF’s decision to press on in the North East despite Thursday’s attack is truly commendable. On our part, the Nigerian government must back the resolve of our international partners with greater coordination platforms in terms of security for aid workers and thorough mandate mapping exercises to ensure that we are meeting the needs of those in crisis areas.”

Saraki appealed for an immediate review of the security situation in the region, urging domestic and international partners to step up humanitarian intervention projects in the zone to save more lives.

“It is a difficult situation, whichever way we look at it,” he said.

Saraki continued: “However, it is situation like this that should prompt aid agencies on ground to scale up their activities and coordination in order to save thousands of lives.”