Residents loot COVID-19 palliative warehouse in Kaduna

Residents in Kaduna, on Saturday, broke into a warehouse located at Gwari avenue and carted away COVID-19 palliative items.

Warehouses across the country have been looted over the past few day with residents carting away items such as rice, sugar, salt, garri, noodles and spaghetti.

In Kaduna, residents invaded the compound in Barnawa where the COVID-19 palliatives were kept and took away the items found in the warehouse.

“We are hungry. How can they be hiding food when we are struggling to survive?” one of the residents was heard saying as he walked away with some items.

Security operatives were, however, deployed to the area but it took a while before they could disperse the crowd.

Mohammed Jalige, spokesman of the Kaduna police command, in a telephone interview, said policemen had since been deployed to the area.

“I am aware of the incident and we have deployed our men to the place and the situation is under control,” he said.

After the crowd was dispersed, security operatives formed a barricade around the warehouse, but some residents were seen hanging around the vicinity.

Meanwhile, the state government has declared a 24-hour curfew in some communities in the state.

According to a statement by Samuel Aruwan, commissioner for internal security and home affairs, the affected communities are in Chikun and Kaduna south local government areas.

“The areas are Barnawa, Kakuri, and Television in Kaduna South Local Government Area and Maraban Rido, Sabon Tasha, Narayi and Ungwan Romi of Chikun Local Government Area,” the statement read.

“Security agencies have been directed to arrest and prosecute any found violating the curfew and those responsible for breakdown of law and order. Security agencies have further been directed to effect the arrest and prosecution of anyone found looting and destroying properties.

“KDSG strongly condemns the concerted incitement being done on social media. The government appeals to all our communities to reject incitement and resist the attempt to create chaos and anarchy.”