The Katsina State Police Command, in collaboration with the Task Force Committee on Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), has arrested nine suspects and recovered 1,624 sachets of the malnutrition treatment popularly known as “Yar Kwamaso,” allegedly diverted from the public health supply chain.
Confirming the report, Police Public Relations Officer Katsina State Command DSP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu said the command said the arrests followed intelligence-led operations targeting the illegal diversion and sale of RUTF meant for vulnerable children and other beneficiaries of public health and nutrition interventions.
The first arrest was made on September 3, 2026, at about 8:00 p.m., when police operatives intercepted 46-year-old Amina Abdurrahman at Mobil Quarters, Katsina, allegedly in possession of two sacks containing 600 sachets of suspected diverted RUTF.
During interrogation, the suspect reportedly confessed to purchasing the therapeutic food from an accomplice who is currently at large in the Kofar Marusa area of Katsina.
In a related operation on September 7, at about 5:00 p.m., police operatives working with the Joint Task Force Committee on RUTF raided Mashi Market in Mashi Local Government Area and Kwado Quarters in Katsina.
The operation resulted in the arrest of eight additional suspects identified as Aisha Rabi’u, Jamila Yahaya, Farida Kabir, Shafa’atu Abubakar, Sabiu Kabir, Rabilu Rabi’u, Maryam Kabir and Buhari Usman.
Police said 888 sachets of RUTF were recovered from seven of the suspects at Mashi Market, while another 136 sachets were recovered from Buhari Usman at Kwado Quarters.
The recoveries brought the total quantity of suspected diverted RUTF seized during the operations to 1,624 sachets.
All nine suspects remain in police custody as investigators work to uncover the wider supply chain, sources and networks allegedly responsible for diverting the therapeutic food from its intended beneficiaries.
The Commissioner of Police, Katsina State Command, CP Ali Umar Fage, ordered a comprehensive investigation into the matter, directing detectives to trace the origin and distribution network of the diverted commodities.
The command said the suspects would be prosecuted upon completion of the investigation.
The police also warned traders, vendors and members of the public against buying, selling or handling diverted government medical supplies and other public health interventions, stressing that anyone found involved would face the full weight of the law.
