From Mu’awiya Bala Idris, Katsina
The Katsina State Government, in collaboration with security agencies, has arrested eight people for allegedly engaging in the illegal sale of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF).
The arrests followed a raid conducted by a committee established by the state government to address reported cases of the illegal sale and diversion of RUTF.
Our correspondent reports that the eight suspects were arrested at locations in Mashi and Katsina Local Government Areas, where they were allegedly selling the food items.
The State Commissioner for Health, Musa Adamu Funtua, led the operation alongside officials from the State Ministry of Health and the Katsina State Primary Health Care Development Agency.
Speaking shortly after the operation, Funtua said the suspects would be handed over to the police for investigation and prosecution.
According to him, the government provides RUTF free of charge to mothers and caregivers for the treatment of malnourished children, stressing that it is illegal for anyone to sell the food items in open markets.
“Selling the food is illegal and amounts to sabotage of the government’s efforts to address malnutrition in Katsina,” he said.
Funtua said the committee under his leadership would continue to work with security agencies to identify, arrest and ensure the prosecution of people involved in the illegal sale of RUTF.
He called on residents of the state to provide information to the committee about locations where the food items are being illegally sold.
The commissioner also advised health workers to desist from diverting RUTF or facilitating its illegal sale in markets.
In his remarks, the Secretary of the Committee, Umar Usman Bindawa, said raids on suspected locations selling the food items would continue until the illegal practice was brought to an end.
Bindawa commended security agencies for their cooperation and assistance to the committee in carrying out its assignment.