Robbers cart away antiretroviral drugs in Benin






BY JETHRO IBILEKE


June 27, 2011 12:51AM

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Regular and uninterrupted supply of antiretroviral drugs to people living with HIV/AIDS in Edo State is now under threat following an attack on the warehouse of the state ministry of health by persons suspected to be armed robbers who broke into the stores over the weekend and carted away with the medical supplies worth millions of naira.

The robbery attack on the warehouse, located on Medical Stores Road, Uselu, Benin City, left one of the two security guards on duty dead.

The security guard, whose name and identity could not be ascertained at the time of going to press, was said to have been killed for not cooperating with the robbers.

The permanent secretary in the ministry of health, Peter Ugbodaga, during his on-the-spot assessment visit to the stores in the company of other directors in the ministry to ascertain the extent of the robbery, condemned the incident, especially the killing of one of the security guards on duty. He expressed his displeasure over the robbery attack.

In a telephone interview with NEXT, Mr Ugbodaga said the state government had only recently embarked on the renovation of the warehouse in batches.

He charged the police authorities to “carry out a thorough investigation into the robbery attack because someone who did not know the place in and out could not have gone there to steal.” Mr Ugbodaga thereafter directed the Chief Store Officer to take inventory of the stocks left in the store so as to ascertain exactly what was stolen.

Loss of value

Investigations by NEXT revealed that the medical warehouse is an extension of Edo Pharmaceutical Company constructed by the military administration of Samuel Ogbemudia in 1972.

According to Godwin Erahon, who served on the board of directors between 1992 and 1993, at its peak, the company produced pharmaceutical products, cotton wool and drips at the Medical Store Road factory. Batteries were also produced at its Sapele Road factory.

The company was however privatised, with the exception of the warehouse, by the military government immediately after John Oyegun was removed from office. Mr Erahon alleged that the warehouses were also vandalised during the administration of former governor, Lucky Igbinedion.

The robbery incident has since been reported at the Okhoro police station. However, the Edo State police command spokesperson, Peter Ogboi, could not be reached by phone for comments on the robbery incident.