Residents of Bayelsa have broken into a warehouse in Yenagoa, the state’s capital, and looted decaying food items said to be stored since 2022.
The warehouse located along Isaac Boro Expressway in Yenagoa, was looted by people said to be frustrated due to the country’s hardships, resulting from the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government, which led to a significant increase in petrol prices, impacting the cost of goods, services, and transportation.
The Bayelsa State Emergency Management Agency (BYSEMA) revealed that the food items taken from the warehouse were no longer suitable for human consumption, as they were stored during the 2022 flood in the state.
In 2022, Bayelsa state was most affected by the flood as no fewer than 1.3 million people became victims of the disaster, and some 300 communities across the eight LGAs of the state affected. According to data released BYSEMA, 96 persons died while about 1.2 million people are displaced in the flooding.
While the looted palliatives were meant for 2022 flooding victims in the state, it is unclear how and why the provisions remain and left to decay.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu-led administration had previously announced a sum of N5 billion in palliatives and grants for distribution to Nigerians through the states. It also remains unclear whether the looted warehouse housed food items promised by the Federal Government.
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In response to the incident, the Director-General of BYSEMA, Hon. Walamam Sam Igrubia, clarified that the agency had previously cleared remnants of unfit food items, including rice and garri, from the warehouse.
He said: “The Bayelsa State Emergency Management Agency (BYSEMA) notes with surprise and concern the unwarranted invasion of the premises of a privately-owned warehouse in the Kpansia area of Yenagoa, the state capital.
“The incident occurred about 7.45pm on Sunday, August 27 almost an hour after the Director-General, Hon. Walamam Sam Igrubia, alongside some BYSEMA personnel, left the warehouse premises.
“During the 2022 flood in the state, the Agency used the warehouse to store food items. 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.
“The remnants, which were swept from the floor and packed in disused bags, were less than 10 bags of rice and garri and with some broken cans of oil.
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“For emphasis, BYSEMA states that these items were not fresh food palliatives and were not hoarded by the Agency or the state government.
“Importantly, these items are unfit for human consumption and a responsible, caring government like ours will not give Bayelsans such items as palliatives.
“In essence, there were really no food items to loot. So, those who carted away the unfit items are please advised in their own interest not to consume them.
“It also condemns the attempt to politicise the incident by opposition elements in the state, who seek to score cheap political points from the ugly occurrence.
“The agency assures people of the state of its preparedness to handle the distribution of palliatives provided by the Federal Government as part of cushioning the effects of its fuel subsidy removal policy as well as the fallout of an impending flooding this year.”