Crime

Six Ebonyi Health Workers Detained Over Alleged Theft of Government Property

Written by Blessing Owolabi on November 25, 2024

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Six employees of the Ebonyi State Ministry of Health have been arrested for allegedly stealing government property. The suspects were apprehended on Saturday night while attempting to transport stolen materials from the ministry’s warehouse to be sold.

Governor Francis Nwifuru’s Chief Press Secretary, Monday Uzor, confirmed the arrests in a statement issued on Sunday. The statement revealed that the suspects, led by Mr. Ndukwe Ayansi, were caught loading various government documents, including patient data registers and cards, into a Toyota Dyana truck.

The theft was discovered when Governor Nwifuru, who was on a project inspection tour, noticed the suspicious activity. After questioning the individuals involved, the governor uncovered that the documents were being sold without the state’s approval.

Governor Nwifuru condemned the act, calling it a deliberate sabotage of the state’s healthcare efforts. “You are selling government documents without approval, while our rural hospitals are in desperate need of these materials,” Nwifuru remarked. “This is a clear sabotage of our work to improve the health sector, and it will not be tolerated.”

The suspects have since been handed over to the police for further investigation and legal action. The governor emphasized that such actions would not go unpunished, as the state continues to prioritize the integrity and proper use of government resources.