3 in custody over alleged diversion of 1,500 sachets of malnutrition food
The Katsina State Police Command has arrested two more suspects over alleged criminal conspiracy and diversion of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), popularly known as Yar Kwamaso, meant for severely malnourished children.
The latest arrests bring the number of suspects in police custody to three following the arrest of Mahmud Aliyu on August 26, 2026, in possession of three sacks containing 1,500 sachets of RUTF.
Aliyu was arrested at about 7:40pm by surveillance officers attached to the Batagarawa Division during an operation in the area.
According to the police, the suspect, during interrogation, mentioned one Zaharaddini Musa, a staff member of a clinic who is currently at large.
The Command said further investigation led to the arrest of two additional suspects identified as Buhari Idris, 40, and Idris Abdullahi Halliru, 51, for their alleged connection with the offence.
RUTF is a humanitarian and public health intervention supplied by the Federal Government in partnership with UNICEF and other donor agencies for the treatment of children under five suffering from severe acute malnutrition.
The specialised nutritional product is distributed free of charge through government and primary healthcare facilities and administered under strict clinical supervision.
The police warned individuals, health workers and groups against the diversion, unauthorised possession, sale, purchase or distribution of RUTF and other government-provided medical and humanitarian supplies.
The Command stressed that RUTF is strictly not for sale, warning that anyone found buying, selling, diverting or misusing the product would be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The three suspects are currently in police custody and will be charged to court after the conclusion of investigations.
The Commissioner of Police, Katsina State Command, CP Ali Umar Fage, reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to protecting government interventions and humanitarian assistance meant for vulnerable members of the public.
He urged residents to promptly report suspicious activities involving the diversion of government palliatives, medical supplies and other public health commodities to the nearest police station.
