Looting of COVID-19 palliatives became a tragic incident in Enugu state after a stray bullet allegedly fired by security operatives hit and killed a young man who sells fuel.

According to reports, after news spread that COVID-19 palliatives were housed at Queen’s Secondary school located inside WTC estate, residents stormed there in an attempt to loot food items.

Security operatives stationed at the school reportedly fired shots to disperse the crowd and unfortunately, a stray bullet hit the young trader.

A shop owner in the area said the deceased was not part of the mob that attempted to break into the school. A graphic video posted by eyewitnesses shows the deceased gasping for breath before he passed away.

Sen. Chijinke Ugwuanyi confirmed that the WAEC hall of Queens College had once served as warehouse for COVID-19 palliatives.

“There is no palliatives at the moment inside Queens secondary school Enugu” he added

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Muhammad Adamu, on Saturday ordered the immediate mobilisation of all police operational assets and resources to bring an end to the wanton violence, killings, looting and destruction of public and private property and reclaim the public space from criminal elements masquerading as protesters in some parts of the country.

The IGP gave the order to all Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs), Commissioners of Police (CPs), Heads of Police Operational Units, Squadron and Base Commanders in charge of Zonal/State/FCT Commands, the Police Mobile Force, Counter Terrorism Unit and the Special Protection Unit on Saturday.

In addition, CPs/Heads of Police Formations in the various states have also been charged to mobilise their men and work in sync with the command CPs in the areas where they are domiciled, to dominate the public space and ensure peace and safety in the affected areas.

The IGP, while noting that enough is enough to all acts of lawlessness, disruption of public peace and order and wanton violence which have resulted to indiscriminate looting of shops, malls and warehouses, damage to property and loss of lives in some parts of the country, further directs the police strategic managers to personally lead and coordinate the operation and use all legitimate means, to halt further slide into lawlessness and brigandage.

The IGP enjoins law-abiding citizens not to panic but rather join forces with the police and other members of the law enforcement community to protect their communities from the criminal elements.

He further called for the understanding and cooperation of the citizens assuring that the action is geared towards ensuring public order and safety and public security in our communities.

The IGP however warns troublemakers not to test the collective will of the nation by coming out to cause any further breakdown of law and order.

All Progressives Congress chieftain, Bola Tinubu has declared that he’s still the Asiwaju of Lagos as well as JAGABAN.

The Billionaire made this statement during a visit to Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at the State House in Marina.

Asked about his whereabouts in the past few days, Tinubu said, “I didn’t go nowhere; I’m a Lagosian and I still hold the title of Asiwaju of Lagos and I am still a Jagaban.

“Fake news is all over the place. They say Seyi my son was kidnapped and was chased but look at him. I didn’t pay a penny to bring him here.”

Speaking on Saturday, Tinubu stressed the need for a thorough investigation into Tuesday night attack.

He said, “First, we have to segregate the calendar – those who suffered casualty before the protests from the hands of SARS. You have to separate that from those who suffered casualty due to what happened at the toll gate.

“For those who suffered casualty from SARS, the Commission of Inquiry that is already set up will unearth that and will make their recommendations. I trust the calibre and the character of the people there, they are independent. That is one.

“Those who suffered casualty during the gunshots need to answer some questions too. Even though we want to help, we still must extract information that will help the government to prepare in future and understand how and when to react because the governor, in particular, is a youth.

“As a youth himself, he (Sanwo-Olu) quickly went to Abuja with the 5/5. The government immediately put into action, dissolved the SARS and had to work through other recommended actions, the needs they demanded. Within a few days, he reported back to the public. That is responsive enough.

“But where are we getting the looting, the carnage, the burning, the invasion of police stations, stealing of arms, maiming of the innocent? It is a handshake beyond the elbow.”

The Ekiti State government have raised an alarm on Saturday warning members of the public not to consume the food items looted in the state.

According to the government, residents mistaken the some treated agricultural products as foods yet to be distributed as Covid-19 palliatives.

Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mr Akin Omole, said in a statement in Ado Ekiti that raising the alarm became expedient to forestall any harm that could befall anyone who consumed the items.

Also reportedly looted was the office of the Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) in Ado Ekiti.

“Information at our disposal revealed that the Federal Government’s silos, the ADP warehouse and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) stores, all in Ado- Ekiti, were attacked by hoodlums under the guise of seeking Covid-19 palliatives.

“We insist that Ekiti State currently has no Covid-19 palliative warehouse as all the palliatives had been distributed.

“Unfortunately, the items carted away were Single Super Phosphate and NPK fertilisers, which they erroneously thought was “Gaari’’, cassava grains.

“The SEMA store too has only emergency supplies for disaster response.

“Some people even made away with pre-fermented corns preserved for planting. All these items are poisonous and not fit for consumption.

“We, therefore, appeal to our people not to consume these items because they can kill,’’ Omole warned.

In a similar statement, Dr Olabode Adetoyi, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, confirmed the looting, warning that most of the items carted away contained chemically-treated seeds meant for planting.

“They are not suitable for consumption,’’ he declared.

The looters actually defied a heavy downpour in Ado-Ekiti on Friday night to storm the warehouses.

Calls For Prosecution Of Soldiers

Human rights advocate, Comrade Victor James, yesterday, said the killings of harmless protesters bearing Nigerian flag in Lekki Toll Gate by Military personnel is a sacrilege and treasonable felony.

The fearless rights advocate made this known in a statement made available to journalists in Asaba, Delta State capital.

The statement read in parts: “ The killings of unarmed protesters bearing Nigerian flag by Nigerian soldiers is a sacrilege to our country and our Constitution. ,

“ It portrays Nigeria in bad light before the international community; it is treason to kill any Nigerian citizen bearing the country’s flag.

“ The military swore oath to protect Nigerians from external aggression. Now, if the Military that is supposed to protect the people are the ones killing Nigerians, then we are deep trouble as a nation.

“ The Military has breached public trust and safety Act. It is purely an act of treason to the Nigerian state because the citizens are the state in line with social contract.

“ The crime is against humanity and is capable to cause anarchy. Acts like this is why black people are abused and disrespected in the West, because if you are not loved by your country statesman, is it a stranger that would love you? It is a slippery slope, Police are very hard on black people in the west because their country of origin treat them in the most worse manner.

“20/10/2020 is marked in history. I am happy your children are my age mate, both Buhari and Osinbajo children. They know how an average Nigerian youth feel today and they should be ashamed of themselves.

“ The military officials behind this terror should face the law otherwise you might as well say we don’t have a law. Human rights law also put responsibility on States to provide effective solutions in the event of violations. Don’t forget that the presidency violated our rights to dignity when he called Nigeria youths lazy in full public glair.”