Police arrest 15 suspects over warehouse looting in Abuja

The federal capital territory (FCT) police command says it has arrested 15 suspects in connection with the vandalism of a warehouse belonging to the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) in Abuja.

Some residents had broken into the warehouse on Sunday and carted away foodstuffs, doors of the warehouse and roofing sheets.

A resident of the area had said the looting of grains began around 7:00 am and continued till 9:00 am, and that residents of Jiwa and Karmo, conterminous communities to Gwagwa, participated in the looting of the warehouse.

Nigerians have been battling spiralling inflation that has compounded the cost of living crisis in the country.

This has led to protests in different parts of the country, that culminated in rallies by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) last week.

In a statement on Sunday, Josephine Adeh, FCT police spokesperson, said some suspects have been arrested in relation to the looting.

She said two security guards employed by the warehouse management were among the suspects arrested.

Adeh said 26 bags of maize, five motorcycles and some vandalised aluminum roofing sheets, were recovered from the suspects.

“The Police Command in the FCT is fully informed about the impulsive attack on Agric Department Strategic food store located at Tasha area of Abuja, on March 3,” the statement reads.

“The attack has resulted to the vandalism and looting of the warehouse.

“The command wishes to state that normalcy has since been restored to the area and the situation under control.”