Police, health officials arrest 5 suspects for allegedly selling herbal medicines in Warri

Officials of the Delta State Ministry of Health today arrested five suspects for allegedly selling fake herbal medicines in Warri and its environs, DAILY POST reports.

The suspects have been taken to the Warri Area Command of the Nigeria Police Force where they are being interrogated by the Police.

The Officials of the Delta State Ministry of Health declined comments when our Correspondent sought their views on
the matter but a source within the ministry who craved anonymity said the suspects were arrested because they were not licensed to sell the herbal medicines especially for not having National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control’s, NAFDAC approval.

We gathered from another source that the ministry wants hawkers of herbal medicines to obtain licenses for their operation, stressing that, “The license is N3000 and it is annually.”

The Warri Area Commander of the Nigeria Police Force, ACP mohammed Shaba was said to be in a security meeting in Asaba the Delta State but a Police Source who preferred anonymity described the arrests of the suspects as “Very unfair.”

The Police Source who questioned the rational for the arrests of the suspects said, “ These are people selling “Agboo” to make ends meet for their families that are being arrested. They said it is giving some people side effects, but we have not seen any. This is what we buy and take every morning to cure malaria. Arresting these people means taking away so many jobs from streets and bringing more crimes to the society.

“I think, they are arresting these people to generate revenue for their organization. This is not fair.”

The developments sparked fears in the hearts of many who ply the trade as they scampered for safety to escape arrest.

Contacted on the matter, the Delta State Acting Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Andrew Aniamaka in text response said, “ Meeting, please.”