Plateau Gov Claims State Lost N75bn To Looters

The Plateau State Government has estimated that the state lost N75 billion to recent activities of hoodlums who looted warehouses and vandalized public and private properties in the state.

Governor Simon Lalong said the estimated losses were captured in the premilitary report of investigations carried out on properties looted and vandalized during and after the recent #EndSARS protests in the state.

The governor spoke when he hosted some youths at the Plateau State Government House, Rayfield, Jos.

“The level of destruction and carnage is unbelievable and unacceptable. We are still trying to carry out a comprehensive evaluation of the total cost of the damage.

“However, the preliminary report by a team of experts I constituted has estimated the losses to be put at about 75 billion naira for now,” said Lalong.

He added that, “Since coming into power, my administration has remained committed to pursuing the economic development of the state through youth empowerment and job creation.

“You would agree with me that the enormity of the challenges we face cannot be resolved overnight or with a wave of the hand. It is a process that all of us must collectively work together to achieve.”

THE WHISTLER earlier reported that the Plateau security council had announced that 307 persons arrested in connection with the looting of warehouses and vandalization of properties in the state would face prosecution.

The state government had identified some of the looted and vandalized properties to include: SEMA Warehouse (Old Nitel Bukuru), PRUWASSA, PADP (Dogon Dutse Jos), Mineral Museum (Angul D, Bukuru), ASTC Vom, Plateau Publishing Company, SUBEB (Dogon Dutse),Government Technical College Bukuru, Ryom Local Government Secretariat, School of Home Economics Vom, Jos foods, Jos Trade Fair (Polo), Private Residence of former Speaker, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara.