FCT Security Guard Recounts How Looters Invaded NEMA Warehouse

He had never seen such a sudden invasion of an enclosed premises until six days ago when hundreds of Abuja residents stormed a warehouse in Idu, breaking through the locked entrance and flocking inside like locusts.

By the time the visitors were done, within an hour, the warehouse which contained trailer loads of relief items, had been emptied.

The next day when THE WHISTLER visited the warehouse and met Abdullah Usman, the security guard, there were only torn, empty rice bags, cartons and plastic littering the floor.

But there was also the broken glasses, bullet shells and blood stains on the walls of the warehouse, a grim reminder of the previous violent invasion which led to the trampling to death of at least three persons.

The warehouse, which is owned by the National Emergency Management Agency(NEMA) is located at the Industrial Estate in Idu, Dakibiyu village in Jabi district, and it housed the agency’s COVID-19 palliative items which were meant for nationwide distribution.

Usman recounted to THE WHISTLER how ‘hoodlums’ invaded the warehouse on Monday, October 24, in large numbers and how the police around “didn’t try to prevent the looting”.

Usman, who spoke bitterly to our correspondent in Hausa language, said: “They came around 4:20 pm on Monday. They came with three vehicles, Keke Napep, motorcycles. They broke the lock and entered and looted everything.

“Not a single item remained. The police were around but didn’t try to prevent the looting. The people went and looted the property of the neighbours too.

“But they caught one of them who went and sold the item worth N33, 000 for N10, 000.”

THE WHISTLER also observed that the story was similar in other parts of the FCT where warehouses were located.

There was the one in WAEC office along Area Council road in Gwagwalada which was overwhelmed by looters on October 26, turning it into a house for scavengers.

Thugs had also attacked the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp on October 27, carting away food items and other resources reserved for incoming corps members.

But the police were able to prevent the invasion of the warehouse located in the precinct of Cyprian Ekwensi building in Garki on Saturday, October 24 because they quickly mobilized to the area.

So far, the FCT Police Command had apprehended about 252 persons suspected to have looted COVID-19 palliatives and recovered over 150 exhibits from the suspects who reportedly invaded three warehouses in the state.