The Nigerian National Emergency Agency said it has taken a giant step to increase security around its facilities to prevent breaches of its offices and warehouses. The decision became necessary after a private warehouse was looted by mobs on Sunday in Abuja, the capital. The incident highlighted the biting economic downturn in the West African nation. Kamil Sodiq has more from Nigeria…
Security officials have been put on high alert at government food stores across Nigeria amid a biting economic situation in the West African country.
The National Emergency Management Agency (Nema) announced that it was increasing security “to forestall any breaches” at its offices and warehouses nationwide.
The need for the protection of warehouses gained attention after local residents broke into and looted food items, including bags of maize, at a facility in Nigeria’s federal capital, Abuja.
Reports say the mob stole other useful items, such as barrier protectors.
The incident, which apparently lasted several hours, caused a traffic jam as people blocked roads around the area.
The ugly incident highlighted increased cases of attacks on warehouses to steal food items by mobs.
The police have since confirmed that the situation has been brought under control.
This is not the first time that warehouses of strategic importance will be under attack in Nigeria.
Reports of similar looting at various warehouses in Lagos, Kaduna, Jos, Edo, and other parts of the country, all of which contained food items meant to cushion the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on the less privileged in those areas.
The attack on the warehouse pointed at the country’s economic crisis, which has resulted in price increases for goods and services, with inflation reaching about 30%.
