Punish Saudi-donated date fruits thieves- MURIC tells FG

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has decried the inability of the federal government to uncover and punish Nigerians who diverted dates donated by the Kingdom of Saudi to Nigeria.
The fruits were donated last year by Saudi Arabia for distribution to internally displaced persons and prominent mosques but were diverted and sold in markets in Abuja and Borno state.
The federal government, after setting up a panel to uncover the culprits, one year after the incident is yet to make any head way and no official has been identified or punished for the diversion.
Reacting to the report in a statement signed by its Director, Ishaq Akintola, MURIC described as disgraceful the reported impropriety in the distribution of the dates.
“The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) frowns at any act of dishonesty. In particular, this allegation of impropriety in the distribution of dates to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Borno camps is most disgraceful if indeed it is true,” the group said in the statement.
“We should pursue this matter to its logical conclusion,” it said.
“Something must be done quickly if Nigeria cries out for help in supporting IDPs and some unscrupulous elements still have the audacity to divert anything sent from foreign countries.
“MURIC demands to know the outcome of the investigation by the foreign ministry. The implication of killing such an investigation is very serious as foreign donors may be skeptical of the reliability of Nigerian government and other agencies within the country in future,” it said. (NAN)