Operatives of the Katsina State Police Command have arrested two additional suspects linked to the criminal conspiracy and unlawful diversion of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), popularly known as "Yar Kwamaso."
The suspects, identified as 40-year old Buhari Idris and 51-year-old Idris Abdullahi Halliru, were apprehended following an expanded investigation into the illegal commercialization of the public health commodity.
Their arrest comes on the heels of an earlier operation on August 26, 2026, when surveillance officers from the Batagarawa Division intercepted one Mahmud Aliyu in possession of three sacks containing 1,500 sachets of stolen RUTF. Upon interrogation, Aliyu implicated Zaharaddini Musa, a healthcare facility worker who is currently on the run.
Confirming the latest arrests in an official statement on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, revealed that a total of three suspects are presently in custody and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
RUTF is a specialized medical nutrition product provided free of charge by the Federal Government of Nigeria in partnership with UNICEF and international donor agencies. Designed specifically to treat severely acutely malnourished children under the age of five, the product is intended strictly for distribution under medical supervision at primary healthcare facilities.
Issuing a stern warning to healthcare workers and the general public against the theft, sale, or unauthorized distribution of humanitarian supplies, the Command emphasized that the diversion of critical aid will carry severe legal consequences.
"RUTF is strictly not for sale. It is a specialized medical nutrition product meant solely for vulnerable, malnourished children," DSP Aliyu stated. "Anyone found dealing in, buying, selling, or misusing these items will be arrested and prosecuted to the full extent of the law."
Reiterating the Command's stance, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ali Umar Fage, affirmed the force's determination to protect government palliatives and donor-funded interventions meant for vulnerable populations, while urging citizens to report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station.
