Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Gombe zonal office has arrested eight persons for production and sales of adulterated fertilizer in Gombe.
The Gombe zonal office Head of Operation Mr Michael Wetkas, stated while speaking during the Parading of the suspects Wednesday in Gombe.
He said that the commission had upon the information received on the purported act, set the commission’s machinery on surveillance that eventually led to the arrest of the individuals.
One of the suspects, 38, Usman Adamu revealed that he specializes in buying empty branded bags and production of the fertilizer from a mixture of 20 percent of suppose limestones which is completely sand 10 percent of Potassium and 10 percent Calcium abandoning the needed 20 percent Nitrogen, which makes the NPK 20 – 10 – 10.
Mr. Wetkas said the suspects were arrested between Lariski a community in Kirfi Local Government Area (LGA) of Bauchi and Gombe states with about 600 bags trailer load of sand used for the adulteration and 81 bags of the already adulterated fertilizers.
According to him: “We will do everything within our powers to make sure that this stops because this is the zenith and pinnacle of the wickedness of man to man, our farmers in the rural areas go through a lot to afford a bagged fertilizer and this is there defrauding innocent farmers.”
On a tour to Lariski where the suspects were arrested, Blueprint came across the factory where the adulterated fertilizer is been produced and a warehouse where they are being stored before taking out to market for sales.
A resident told Blueprint that some of them were aware of the act but were also afraid of reporting to security officials because they were not sure of what might happen.
