From Godwin Agia, Jalingo
Community leaders from Shagogo in Donga local government area of Taraba state have accused the Taraba state police command of aiding an acclaimed cement dealer who defrauded the community of money to the tune of N6.140 millions.
The community members of Shagogo in January 14 2025 ordered for a Truck of Cement containing 900 bags from Dongote Cement Gboko at the rate of N8000 for each bag.
The Cement was procured for church projects, on arrival of the Truck containing the Cement in Donga area, the driver allegedly refused to handover the consignment to the buyers, claiming that monies for the commodity was paid to a wrong dealer.
The matter was reported to the police area command where the truck was intercepted and detained. The community leaders also proceeded to obtain a court order at Area 1 Court in Donga for legal detention of the truck and the commodity pending when the case is properly settled.
Speaking to journalist in Jalingo on Sunday, the head of Shagogo Zaki,Terngu Agere said the police decided to free the truck with the Cement without consulting the community members who are the complainants in the case.
Agere said the transaction of the Cement was properly done with a known cement marketer on Gboko Benue state “But on arrival of the truck in Donga to handover the products to us, the Cement dealer who collected N6.140 for the transaction through bank transfer switched off all his phone lines”, a situation he said has been generating crisis since January.
Agere wondered why the police chose to release the truck containing the cement knowing that the matter has been properly reported to police and also has a court order pasted on the body of the truck, restraining the release of the vehicle.
He urged the Inspector General of Police ( IGP) and other security agencies to help the community to recover the cement or their money from the fraudster, stating that the funds were gathered from their hard earn means.
The police public relations officer, Taraba state police command Mr. Abubakar Usman confirmed the development to our correspondent when contacted.
Usman said the matter was reported to the state’s police command and was later transfered to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for proper investigation.
“We are aware of the matter, our CID are handling it, although, they have gotten an order to release the vehicle to the owner, we promise to get the person behind the crime. Usman said.
