The Executive Secretary of the Taraba State Emergency Management Agency, Echuseh Audu, has called for a full investigation into allegations that she diverted relief materials meant for vulnerable residents in the state.
Audu said she personally reported the matter to several security and investigative agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. She also notified the state’s Ministry of Justice and the Office of the Special Adviser on Security to the governor, requesting a transparent and independent probe.
The SEMA boss, who oversees the distribution of humanitarian aid to internally displaced persons and low-income households, denied the claims. She said her decision to submit herself for investigation was to protect the agency’s reputation and avoid any assumption of guilt.
According to her, remaining silent in the face of such allegations could be interpreted as acceptance. She stressed that the agency has worked hard to build credibility while supporting vulnerable communities across the state.
Audu also warned that the allegations, which have circulated widely on social media, could damage public trust and affect support from donor organisations. She insisted that clearing doubts through proper investigation is necessary to maintain confidence in the agency’s operations.
The accusations were made by Abdulmuni Imam, who alleged that large quantities of relief items, including thousands of bags of rice and cartons of groundnut oil, were diverted and sold outside the state. Audu, however, challenged the claims, noting that no verifiable evidence has been presented.
She further questioned the practicality of the alleged diversion, stating that transporting such large volumes of goods would require significant logistics that should be easily traceable by authorities.
Meanwhile, the police have commenced steps to investigate the matter. The State Criminal Investigation Department has invited the accuser to appear before investigators, as the case is also being reviewed for possible offences including cyberbullying, criminal defamation, and criminal intimidation.
