Following the directive by the Inspector General of Police Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, a nationwide sweeping search and arrest of miscreants who freely looted and vandalised public utilities, private business concerns and residences of some top individuals has earnestly commenced, Blueprint reports.
The IGP Saturday ordered the Assistants Inspector General (AIGs) and the Commissioners of Police (CPs) to take charge and restore order amidst the street violence.
The hoodlums
Some hoodlums, hiding under the #ENDSARS protest, took advantage of the peaceful protest seeking an end to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) to unleash mayhem on law abiding citizens.
The looting spree started in Lagos state Wednesday, barely 24 hours after some ‘unknown soldiers’ allegedly killed unspecified number of protesters at the Lekki Tollgate end of the state.
In a rage of anger, the hoodlums changed the direction of the protest and took to looting and vandalising of properties and major businesses in the state.
Beside looting the warehouse in Mazamaza where some COVID-19 palliative items were kept, the miscreants also hit the streets of Lagos, burning and looting major business investments.
Among the places torched were Lagos state High Court buildings, TVC television station and The Nation, both media houses believed to be owned by a former Lagos state governor and national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
And not long after, similar trend occurred in Kwara, Plateau, Ondo, Osun, Oyo and Cross River among others, where the palliatives were looted and major private business outfits vandalised.
A dusk-to-dawn curfew had been imposed on all the affected states to restore some level of sanity after the street violence.
Plateau
In Plateau state, the Special Military Task Force, Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) Sunday arrested 123 suspects for vandalising and looting items from private businesses and government properties in Jos.
Parading the suspects before journalists in Jos, the state capital, OPSH Commander Chukwuemeka Okonkwo said the suspects defied the 24-hour curfew imposed by the state government to perpetrate the criminal acts.
He said some of the suspects were arrested during the looting spree at the Plateau Agricultural and Development Agency (PADP), located at Dogon Dutse of Jos North local government area of the state.
Others, he said, were arrested while trying to vandalise and loot private shops at West of Mines area of the locality.
The commander said the arrest was aimed at curbing all forms of criminality in the state, adding that it would also serve as deterrent to others.
“We arrested these suspects while vandalising and looting private businesses and properties in Jos.
“These are hoodlums, not #ENDSARS protesters. So, they are purely criminals.
“We will not tolerate any form of criminality and this exercise will also serve as a deterrent to others,” he said.
He warned that the task force would decisively deal with anybody caught tampering with public properties, and that the suspects would be prosecuted.
“We shall not spare anyone caught unlawfully taking government property. Such persons are criminals and will not go scot free.
“These suspects will be handed over to the appropriate authority for prosecution,” Okonkwo said.
He said the task force would make more arrests as the OPSH would ensure such criminal elements were apprehended.
The suspects comprised 110 males and 13 females.
Some of the items looted by the suspects include pumping machines, bags of fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides.
Governor Simon Lalong had re-imposed a 24-hour curfew following burgling of some major stores and carting away thousands of palliative items in Jos and Bukuru.
Also, the Nigeria Standard Newspapers and some cars were damaged, while some private businesses were also vandalised by the hoodlums Saturday.
As at the time of this report, more suspects were being taken to the OPSH headquarters.
Meanwhile, the state commissioner for information, Hon. Dan Majang, said the state government did not hoard palliative items, contrary to allegations making the rounds.
He said: “It has become expedient for the Plateau State Government to condemn the action and further make some clarifications about the items to clear the erroneous impression that they were being hoarded.”
Akwa Ibom
Similarly, the Akwa Ibom Police command said it arrested 10 suspects in connection with the looting and vandalism of properties in Uyo following the infiltration of the #EndSARS protest by hoodlums.
Commissioner of Police Andrew Amiengheme stated this in a press statement obtained by Blueprint in Uyo.
Amiengheme said the quick deployment of anti-riot policemen in collaboration with sister security agencies like the army and DSS, as well as the efforts of the state government, led to restored normalcy to the capital city.
He said the command recovered stolen properties worth millions of naira, including 14 deep freezers, 6 refrigerators, 8 flat screen televisions, 4 water dispensers, 16 bags of rice, 4 air conditions, one printer, chairs and other items.
The police boss said the command would continue to ensure all the looted items were recovered.
“Some youths with evil intentions in the guise of #ENDSARS went about vandalising, looting and burning some government and private property including the Akwa Ibom State Broadcasting Corporation (AKBC), Anchor Insurance, De Choice Shopping Mall, L.G showroom, and Access Bank Plc.
“I have visited all the said places today with my Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, Auwal M. Mohammad, and we have made an on-the-spot assessment of damages done.
“I commend the state government’s timely intervention through the imposition of curfew. As of today, I went round to ensure strict compliance, and we will continue to do so.
“The command’s efforts have yielded positive results leading to the arrest of the following persons: Victor Udoeka Effiong ‘m’, Emediong Michael James ‘f’, Imedimfon Ime James ‘m’, Isaac John Udoh ‘m’, Sunday Michael James ‘m’, Wisdom Godswill Reuben ‘m’, Ntiefon Ime Robbert, Akaninyene Abraham Livinus ‘m’, Imoh Enobong Sunday, Isaac Sunday Udo ‘m’.
“I am delighted to inform you that our quick deployment of Anti-Riot Policemen in conjunction with the efforts of sister security agencies such as the Army and DSS, and the efforts of the state government has restored normalcy in Uyo and the state in general,” he said.
Amiengheme said under his watch, the command would not allow anyone to derail the peace in the state.
Osun
And from Osun state, Blueprint gathered that no fewer than 30 people were apprehended in connection with the looting of shops and warehouses across the state.
The hoodlums were separately arrested by some local and the Joint Task Force on security in the state.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Mrs Abiodun Ige disclosed this to journalists Sunday in Osogbo.
She said properties worth millions of naira were also recovered from the suspects.
The governor’s aide said efforts were on to arrest others, and advised those with the stolen items to return same immediately.
Some of the vandalised places include; Ayegbaju market, residence of Senator Ajibola Bashiru, and that of former Deputy Speaker House of Representatives Lasun Yusuf and the popular Omoluabi Garment Factory among others.
She listed the items recovered from the said looters to include chairs, fans, television sets and food items.
Kwara
Also, several of the alleged looters of Shoprite and other business concerns in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital, were nabbed by the state police command.
In a video clip on BBC News Yoruba which has gone viral, the arrested persons, comprising young and old, men and women, were seen being ordered into a MOPOL pick up vehicles.
Some of them who pleaded for leniency, said they had lost their parents long time ago and needed to make ends meet, even as a policeman was overheard telling them he lost his parents some 40 years ago , but vowed not to go into begging or stealing, hence the decision to join the force to decently earn a living.
For some others, they were just coming around Sunday morning to come and be part of the looting when the long arm of the law caught up with them, Blueprint gathered.
Meanwhile, Kwara state Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has announced a N500 million support for those whose businesses were looted in the state by hoodlums.
The governor condemned “the mindless looting” of people’s businesses in the state capital and insisted there can be no justification for such criminal behaviour.
He commiserated with owners of all the businesses affected and announced N500m fund to assist them as part of the administration’s effort to bring them back on their feet following the incident.
During his visit to the Kwara Mall and Agro Mall Saturday evening, the governor said the incident may bring businesses to their knees, and cause massive loss of jobs and a surge in poverty rate. The implications, he said, were clearly lost on the “hoodlums”.
“We are therefore not going to leave the business owners like that. We are setting up N500m fund for those that were affected to access. The application form is live and active on the state government’s website and can now be filled by interested parties. We are going to get them back as soon as possible,” he said.
Cross River
Reports from Calabar, Cross River state, said Governor Ben Ayadecharged security agencies in the state to move against the spate of arson and carnage witnessed in some parts the capital city.
In a statement by his special adviser, media and publicity, Mr Christian Ita, the governor asked the security personnel to carry out a house-to-house search for looted property with a view to arresting the hoodlums who perpetrated the criminal act.
While saying he understood the people’s pain, Ayade stated underscored the need to protect the collective commonwealth of the people currently under threat by some persons desperately trying to discredit the peaceful disposition of the citizens of the state.
He urged security personnel “to take legitimate actions to ensure that peace returns to the state,” noting that “the state government is already working towards ensuring the demands of those who genuinely participated in the #EndSARS march are met.”
Ayade further called on the citizens to rise and defend their land from criminal elements bent on destroying the state’s image.
FCT
While arrests were being made, hoodlums struck in Abuja, the nation’s capital city, carting away various items believed to be the palliatives.
Specifically, they raided the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) agriculture store located at Gwagwa-Tasha, in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).
The stolen items include; bags of grains, sewing machines, mattresses, cartons of milk and tin tomatoes among others.
Blueprint gathered that the store, which is maintained by the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat (ARDS) of the administration is used for storage of agricultural products for sales to farmers, at subsidised rates, especially during the planting seasons.
However, the hoodlums, who invaded the facility, removed almost all the agricultural products in the store, even as security agencies, who rushed to the area, could not help the situation.
But calm returned only when another detachment of security personnel, including the army and police were drafted to the area, and dispersed the looters with teargas canisters and gunshots.
As at the time of this report, no arrest was made, while attempt to speak with the ARDS head of media, Mr Zakari Aliyu, failed as he did not pick his calls.
And after the Gwagwa Tasha incident, our findings revealed that the looters proceeded to Idu Industrial Layout along Angwa Rogo where they pounced on the palliatives supposedly meant for the FCT residents.
Boldly written on the items was ‘COVID-19 palliative’ from the ministry of humanitarian affairs and disaster management.
Minister denies
However, FCT Minister of state Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, denied the looting of the palliative items, insisting they remained intact and safe.
She also clarified that the items were not hoarded as being speculated in some quarters.
The minister made the clarification in a statement by her special assistant on media, Mr Austin Elemue.
She said items meant for flood victims in the territory were safe and secure, as security agents have been deployed to man the strategic reserves.
Men of the FCT Command of the Nigeria Police Force had foiled an attempt by some youths to break into a warehouse at the Arts and Culture building in Area 10, Garki Saturday.
The youths, numbering over 40, had invaded the area Saturday morning and made attempts to gain entry into the building to evacuate palliatives warehoused in the place by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
However, Aliyu who explained that warehouses are supposed to stock supplies for emergency response including the recurrence of COVID-19 pandemic, warned that “unsuspecting members of the public should therefore not be lured into criminality under the guise of ‘hoarded’ palliative food items in the territory.”
The minister also stated that the FCT Administration had in the past months distributed all items procured and also distributed donated items to the Area Councils, Community Associations, Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Professional bodies/associations.
She further said the administration had continued to receive donations that were distributed on a continuous basis and in a transparent manner, and that the details were in the public domain.
Kogi
And from Kogi state, tragedy struck as three persons lost their lives Sunday when thousands stormed the state warehouse in Lokoja for the palliative items on the directive of Governor Yahaya Bello.
The warehouse, located along the Murtala Mohammed way, very close to Kpata market in Lokoja, was stormed as early as 7 am Sunday by youth and women.
One of our reporters who was at the scene gathered that the three persons died as a result of stampede when people rushed into the warehouse to take their turns.
The state government had last month commenced distribution of the COVID-19 palliatives to all the 21 local government areas with each getting one trailer and one truck loaded with items such as rice, semovita, indomie noodles, and macaroni among others.
The security agencies deployed to the area even encouraged people to go inside and collect their own palliatives and advised the people to maintain peace and avoid anything that would lead to stampede.
One of the women who spoke with our correspondent, Mariam Adamu, said the people were there in response to the governor’s directive that the remaining items be distributed to the people.
“I am here to see if I will be lucky to get some food items for my family since things have not been easy for us since COVID-19 pandemic,” she said.
The state commissioner for Information and communications, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, commended people of the state for turning up for the palliatives.
In a statement Sunday, Fanwo said: “Report at our disposal showed that local government authorities ensured the palliatives reached the masses and helped in ameliorating the hardship visited on our nation as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Adamawa
Meanwhile, Adamawa state Govrnor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has announced the imposition of a dusk-to-dawn curfew throughout the state.
This, he said, was with effect from 3.00pm Sunday afternoon till further notice to avoid a breakdown of law and order in the state.
This followed the invasion of the state’s warehouses by some youths and women in Yola, carting away food items such as rice, indomie, sugar and palm oil among others.
They were part of the palliatives meant for people of the state as COVID-19 palliative.
Announcing this decision in a state-wide broadcast to people of the state, Governor Fintiri said: “For the avoidance of doubt, the government has through ADSEMA distributed palliatives throughout the 226 wards of the state during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic to cushion the effect of the first and second lock down declared in the state. Two weeks into the lock down with an end to the pandemic not in sight I have directed that more foods be released to the people and distributed to 21 local governments.
“Considering the hardships experienced by workers especially those at the lower cadre, I directed for third distributions of food items to all workers from grade level 1 to 6 and further distributions was also directed through local government areas before the announcement of second lock down. I should emphasise that throughout these exercise up to the fourth distributions these items have been from our emergency stock”
My father vindicated, says Buhari’s daughter
And in her response to the looting, Zahra Buhari-Indimi, a daughter of President Muhammadu Buhari, said the discovery of food items and other COVID-19 palliatives in several warehouses across the country was evidence that her father is not Nigeria’s problem.
Zahra made the position known Sunday on her Instagram.
“Now that people confirmed that Buhari distributed enough palliatives nationwide, it is clear Buhari is not our problem,” she said.
