‘They’re expired’ — NAFDAC warns Kaduna residents against using looted drugs

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned residents of Kaduna against consuming drugs looted during an attack on its office on Saturday.

The NAFDAC office in Kaduna was attacked by a mob who took away items said to be fake and expired drugs.

Residents also broke into a warehouse located at Gwari avenue and carted away COVID-19 palliative items.

In a statement issued after the vandalisation of its office, NAFDAC warned residents against using the drugs as they were prohibited and expired.

“The looted items include expired, prohibited, and dangerous drugs. Persons who consume such drugs are at great risk of serious illness and death,” the statement read.

Samuel Aruwan, Kaduna commissioner for internal security and home affairs, in a statement on Sunday, also said some stores belonging to a food processing company were looted, but warned that items stolen were unfit for consumption.

“The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has updated the Kaduna State Government about the items looted yesterday from their warehouse in the Narayi area of Chikun LGA. The looted items include expired, prohibited, and dangerous drugs. Persons who consume such drugs are at great risk of serious illness and death,” the statement read.

“The management of food processing company whose stores were looted in Kakuru also disclosed that the stolen grains have been treated with chemical preservatives which render them unsafe for consumption.

“Residents of Kaduna State are hereby notified to be vigilant and careful about the source of the food and medications they take and where they buy them, to avoid these dangers.

“The Kaduna State Government appeals to the public for information on the identities of the looters and where they might be hiding the stolen items.”

Hadiza Balarabe, acting governor of Kaduna, on Sunday, inspected the vandalised facilities.

The state government had earlier imposed a 24-hour curfew in Chikun and Kaduna south local government areas, but later extended the movement restriction to cover all areas of the state.

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

Kwara, Lagos, Adamawa and Cross River are some of the states where warehouses have been looted across the country.