Police Command of Kogi state on Wednesday paraded 56 suspects in connection with the spate of vandalization and looting of government warehouses in the state.
The lootings as witnessed in some other parts of the country is not unconnected with the fallout from the #EndSARS protests which later turned bloody, particularly in Lagos State, where it was alleged that soldiers shot at and killed a yet unconfirmed number of protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate.
Parading the suspects at the state police command in the capital, the Commissioner of Police (CP) Ayuba Ede, said that those arrested looted materials and vandalised property worth several million in Lokoja between last Sunday and Monday.
Nine of the suspects were arrested in connection with the breaking and looting of the warehouse where essential drugs were being stored by the state government.
Items recovered from the suspects include spraying/pump machine, agrochemicals, cartons of surgical glove, hardware/tool kits, various models of motorcycles, tricycles, pairs of rain boots.
Others include two sacks containing dismembered air conditioners, computers, electronics, medical equipment, and ceiling fans.
The CP said that their arrest was in compliance with the directives of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu’s to reclaim the public space and restore normalcy across the federation and to bring an end to wanton violence, killings, looting, and destruction of public and private properties and to rid the places of criminal elements masquerading as protesters in some parts of the country.
He noted that consequent upon the reports of looting of some government facilities across the Lokoja metropolis, he mobilized and personally led other heads of security agencies to coordinate the operation to halt the further slide into lawlessness and brigandage.
“I am pleased to inform you that the ongoing operation which has been carried out with dedication and passion led to the arrest of fifty-six suspected looters of Agricultural Development Project (ADP) warehouse, Essential Drugs warehouse and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture offices in Lokoja and recoveries of some looted items.
“Eighteen suspected looters were arrested in connection with the looting and vandalization of items from the stores of the Ministry of Agriculture and entire premises of Agricultural Development Project (ADP) located at Felele, Lokoja. All the suspects will be arraigned in court on completion of the investigation,” he said.