In a startling breach of security, residents of Kebbi State, including the capital city of Birnin Kebbi, engaged in widespread looting of both government and private-owned warehouses on Saturday night, exacerbating the state’s cost of living crisis.
The looters targeted a government storage facility located in the Bayan Kara area, successfully overpowering the security forces on guard to make away with essential food items.
The spree of theft extended beyond government stockpiles, as private warehouses and retail stores in the vicinity also fell victim to the raid. A truck filled with a variety of grains, which had broken down and was intended for distribution within Birnin Kebbi, was likewise plundered.
This wave of looting in Kebbi State follows similar incidents in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and Suleja in Niger State, highlighting a growing trend of desperation amid difficult economic times attributed to the removal of petrol subsidies and the naira’s flotation.
Chairman of the Bayan Kara Market food vendors association, Muhammadu Gwadangwaji, reported the severity of the situation, noting that the aggression of the youths was undeterred by security efforts, which included firing gunshots and deploying tear gas.
“They forced their way in and looted the government warehouse and some of our shops,” Gwadangwaji recounted. He further mentioned that several shops and warehouses were set ablaze by the marauders. (Leadership)