Hoodlums Covid-19 palliatives in Kwara, Cross River, mall in Delta

Hoodlums on Friday went on a looting spree in Kwara, Cross River and Delta states. In Kwara, they invaded the cargo terminal in Ilorin to prey on COVID-19 palliatives meant for the poor, according to a statement by the Commissioner for Communications Harriet Afolabi-Oshatimehin.

She said that much of the palliatives had already been distributed and that “the remaining palliatives in the terminal, which the hoodlums preyed on until chased away by security agencies, were meant for special vulnerable groups and just one local government where names of the beneficiaries have just been delivered and officials have started distributing when the street urchins breached the wall of the facility.”

“It would be recalled that the CACOVID and the state government had since September 23rd flagged off the distribution of the palliatives. But it was meant for specific households, as dictated by CACOVID, and so names had to be properly generated to allow for transparent and orderly distribution.

“The actions of the hoodlums are condemnable and those already arrested would face the full weight of the law. The government would not tolerate anyone hiding under any guise to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere in the state. The government commends the security agencies for acting with restraint in the face of provocation by the hoodlums,” Oshatimehin said in a statement.

Meanwhile, on Friday evening hoodlums stormed an uncompleted building owned by the Cross River State government and looted some food items believed to be part of the COVID-19 palliatives stored there.

The building, housing the proposed West African Fabrication Academy, was where Governor Ben Ayade last April held a symbolic flag-off exercise for distribution of COVID-19 palliatives.

It was a free-for-all exercise as the hoodlums carted away bags of rice, beans, cartons of noodles and other food items believed to be transferred from the warehouse to the uncompleted building.

Video of the looting on social media showed some of youths shouting: “This is wickedness. This is what they were supposed to give us, they did not. Somebody when and kept it in uncompleted building. Let security come, we don’t care.”

Earlier on Friday, hoodlums had also stormed Calabar South Local Government Secretariat where office of the local government chairman was vandalised.

Confirming the incident, the Chairman, Hon Esther Bassey, said: “Hoodlums attacked the political block in the secretariat premises looting items and destroying structures.

“They started burning tyres in the premises, destroying windows and other property. Staff and limited security that were in the secretariat had to leave for safety before calling for re-enforcement.

“It was when re-enforcement of security arrived and they started hearing the siren sound, then they escaped through the nearby creeks.

“What we are telling our people is that there is no sense in destruction of public properties. People should go stay at home and parents should advice their wards to maintain peace in the community.”

As at the time of this report, youths were reportedly heading to the SEMA warehouse.

In a swift response, Ayade announced a 24-hour curfew from 6pm.

And in Delta State, hoodlums burgled and looted valuable goods in a popular shopping mall, Memories Superstores located in the timber town of Sapele.

It happened after a 48-hour curfew imposed by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to stem further loss of lives and destruction of properties across the state.

The hoodlums, in their number, vandalised the mall, located along Ajogodo Road and carted away goods worth millions.

But for arrival of operatives of the Nigerian Army, 19 Battalion, Koko, more damage would have been recorded.

The miscreants were said to have stationed spies some distance away from the mall to alert them of unwanted companies, as such they fled with some valuables on sighting the soldiers.

A witness, Akporotu Onome, told newsmen the hoodlums stormed the mall and forced their way in and thereafter began to loot goods inside the store.

“People were carting away goods and others were destroying things until soldiers came in,” he stated.