Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have reportedly arrested a warehouse owner and three other individuals in connection with the alleged diversion of humanitarian relief materials in Jalingo, Taraba State.
The incident reportedly occurred in Sintali Ward, Jalingo Local Government Area, where relief supplies believed to have been donated by Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSRelief) were allegedly discovered in a private warehouse.
The materials reportedly included rice, white beans and other essential food supplies intended to support vulnerable households and people affected by disasters across the state.
Reports said the arrests followed information about the movement of relief items into the warehouse. The supplies were reportedly removed from the facility and taken to the DSS office in Jalingo as investigations continued.
However, the circumstances surrounding the discovery and the ownership of the materials remain disputed. The Taraba State Emergency Management Agency (TSEMA) has denied storing or authorising the storage of relief materials at the warehouse and directed enquiries about the operation to the DSS.
A Taraba-based civil society organisation has also questioned reports of the raid, saying its own inquiries found no evidence that the operation or arrests occurred.
As of the latest reports reviewed, the DSS had not publicly provided a detailed account confirming the operation and the allegations. The claims of diversion therefore remain unproven, and the suspects should not be considered guilty unless established through due process.
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