Troops of Forward Operations Base Potiskum in Yobe State have arrested a 54-year-old man, Mallam Ahmed Abubakar for stealing the state's agricultural empowerment tools distributed to farmers.

A statement signed by the Special Adviser on Security to the Governor, Brigadier General Dahiru Abdulsalam (rtd), said the troops intercepted tools, and arrested the suspect while conveying them to an unknown destination.

According to Abdulsalam, the suspect was in possession of 5 water pumps and 8 solar panels suspected to be items distributed for empowerment by the Yobe State Government.

He further stated that the suspect hails from Dazigau village in Nangere local government area and claimed to be a serving Councillor representing Dazigau Ward in the LGA, and that the items found in his possession belongs to his constituents.

Gen. Abdulsalam further revealed that the suspect had no letter of allocation or other documents to prove his claim when he was arrested.

He added that the suspect and recovered items have been handed over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) in Potiskum for further action.

LEADERSHIP recalls that the federal government donated agricultural inputs to the Yobe State Government last month for distribution to farmers across the state, as part of the measures to guarantee food security and boost food sufficiency in state and the nation.

The state's governor, Hon Mai Mala Buni has appealed to the security agencies to arrest anybody found diverting the agricultural empowerment equipment across the 17 LGAs.

Speaking to LEADERSHIP in Damaturu, the spokesperson of the Yobe State Command of the NSCDC, Bala Garba confirmed the arrest of the suspect.