Following Governor Ben Ayade’s order for the search of the looted items and Police Inspector General’s order for all police units to put an end to looting/destruction of lives and property and restore peace and order, the security operatives in Calabar, Cross River State on Monday began a house-to-house search for the looted items.
Between Friday and Saturday last week, hoodlums and looters broke into over 35 government and private properties, looted several items, and set some buildings ablaze.
An eyewitness revealed that the search began at Anantigha, Calabar South local government area of the state, and the security operatives were seen in two truckloads, searching for looted items.
He said, “some unknown looters returned looted items (chair, laptop, and television) to the street, no one picks them… Jungle race when the army drives near.”
Military patrol, searches, and roadblocks are said to continue at order parts of Cross River-High Way, 8 miles, Marian, Akpabuyo, Odukpani, etc.
READ ALSO: #EndSARS Protests: Hungry citizens loot COVID-19 palliatives in Gwagwalada
Meanwhile the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello has ordered the arrest and prosecution of the people who broke the FCT warehouse in Gwagwalada Area Council and looted the food items in the store.
Bello gave the order during an emergency security meeting with leaders of various security agencies in the city, on Monday in Abuja.
The minister, who asked those who looted the food items to return them immediately, disclosed that there would be massive deployments of security agencies to safeguard factories and warehouses in the Idu Industrial District of the city.
”What is going on is no longer #EndSARS protest but broad day stealing by hoodlums,” he said.
On her part, The FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu condemned the looting in strong terms.
She said no nation could survive without a food reserve which is being looted across the country.
Aliyu called on Council chairmen and royal fathers to reach out to opinion molders and unite the people against looters.
Royal fathers who spoke called for decisive actions to be taken against those looting across the city.
They said hoodlums are beginning to enter markets shops and personal business premises.
In a related development, the Plateau State Government has given looters 48 hours to return stolen Coronavirus (COVID-19) palliatives in their possession or risk being arrested.
The warehouse where COVID-19 palliatives were stored in the Bukuru community of Jos South Local Government Area of the state was looted on Saturday.
In a reaction on Monday, the State Police Command described the act as criminal, nothing that the looters should return the stolen palliatives before Wednesday.
This was disclosed in a statement by the acting Spokesman of the State Police Command, Donbey Peters.
The statement reads in part: “Sequel to the ugly occurrences that bedevilled some parts of the state particularly Jos North and Jos South LGAs, the Commissioner of Police Plateau State Command, CP Edward Egbuka, has condemned in totality the breaking and looting into government warehouses, shops and private houses of individuals by hoodlums and other criminals within Jos and Bukuru metropolis under the guise of #EndSARS protests.
“He described it as an act of criminality aimed at truncating the tireless efforts of the police and other security agencies on the Plateau. This has led to the arrest of over a hundred persons.
“He stated that the Government of Plateau State is giving these looters the grace to return immediately, every looted item to the nearest local government office not later than Wednesday 28 October 2020. Anyone found in possession of any looted item after this date will be arrested and brought to book.”
The statement reminded the public that the 24-hour curfew imposed by the government is still in place and cautioned the public against disobedience.
