Ademola Adeshina
Four persons allegedly claiming to be officials of the Ministry of Health has been arrested for selling and distributing counterfeited COVID-19 products to unsuspecting members of the public in Onitsha, Anambra state.
The suspects are: Anthony Chidubem Oyatubo (30) of Nimo, Njikoka LGA, Nwachukwu Chidi (31) of Awka, Chris C.Okeke (30) and Olisa Moura (25) of Onitsha.
Police spokesperson, Haruna Mohammed who disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, said the suspects were arrested with several surgical masks, hand sanitizers against deadly Coronavirus produced locally under unhygienic conditions.
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Mohammed said further that the syndicates were apprehended by police operatives attached to Central Police Station Onitsha following intelligence report.
According to him “Four suspects who allegedly claimed to be officials of the Ministry of Health, fully kitted with reflective jackets and caps with inscriptions “FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19” were arrested with flyers, hand sanitizers and face masks which they produced locally under unhygienic conditions and selling the products to the unsuspecting members of the public as well as distributing same to various outlets in Onitsha before their arrests.
He stated that preliminary investigation revealed that suspects were neither government workers nor health officials as they claimed but misguided elements who took advantage of the present pandemic situation to market their unhygienic products to the oblivious buyers.
He said the suspects would be charged after investigation were concluded.
The state Commissioner of Police, John Abang enjoined the public to be wary of such syndicates and refrain from patronising them in order not to expose themselves to other health hazards.
