Hungry residents of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, on Sunday, reportedly broke into a private warehouse used by the state government to store palliatives from the Federal Government to cushion the likely effects of the anticipated flood.
It was gathered that the Senator representing Bayelsa Central Senatorial District, Konbowei Benson, allegedly owns the warehouse, which is located along the Isaac Boro Expressway in the state.
Residents, who stormed the warehouse in their numbers, claimed that they were looting the palliatives due to the hardship in the country occasioned by the removal of subsidy on petrol.
Confirming the incident, the Bayelsa State Emergency Management Agency (BYSEMA) said it was surprised and concerned over the unwarranted invasion of the warehouse.
A statement by the Director General of the agency, Walaman Igrubia, said the incident, which occurred about 7:45 p.m. on Sunday, was almost an hour after he, alongside some BYSEMA personnel, left the warehouse premises.
“As part of preparations for an impending flood this year, the DG visited the premises, and in his presence, remnants of food items, notably rice and garri that were no longer fit for consumption, were cleared from the warehouse and placed outside for disposal the next day.
“For emphasis, BYSEMA wishes to state that these items were not fresh food palliatives, and were not hoarded by the agency or the state government.”
It was not clear if the warehouse looted in Yenagoa housed food items promised by Tinubu’s administration but it was confirmed that it contained palliatives with labels that indicate that they were meant for victims of the 2022 flooding.
It was further learnt that some of the food items have expired, however, that did not stop the residents from looting the warehouse.
Recall Lagos Panorama reported in 2022 after floods ravaged some states that the Women wing of the Tinubu Presidential Campaign Council led by wife of the APC candidate, Sen Oluremi Tinubu distributed palliatives to states affected by the floods and Bayelsa State Government actually received the packages so it’s not clear if the palliatives was hoarded.
