Many persons have reportedly died following an open fire by security operatives on residents who looted the COVID-19 palliatives warehouse in Illorin, the Kwara state capital.
The incident which occurred on Friday, saw soldiers of the Nigerian Army killing residents who besieged the warehouses in cargo terminal area and Agro mall in Illorin, carting away items such as spaghetti, noodles, salt and sugar.
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According sources, security agents opened fire on the residents in a bid to restore order when one of the warehouses was being looted.
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While condemning the looting of the warehouse, the state Commissioner for Communications, Harriet Afolabi-Oshatimehin, in a statement explained why the items were yet to be distributed.
“The remaining palliatives in the terminal, which the hoodlums preyed on until chased away by security agencies, were meant for special vulnerable groups and just one local government where names of the beneficiaries have just been delivered and officials have started distributing when the street urchins breached the wall of the facility,” she said.
“It would be recalled that the CACOVID and the state government had since September 23rd flagged off the distribution of the palliatives. But it was meant for specific households, as dictated by CACOVID, and so names had to be properly generated to allow for transparent and orderly distribution.
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“The actions of the hoodlums are condemnable and those already arrested would face the full weight of the law. The government would not tolerate anyone hiding under any guise to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere in the state.
“The government commends the security agencies for acting with restraint in the face of provocation by the hoodlums.”
Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, further declared a 24-hour curfew beginning at midnight on Friday, following the incident.
Recall that COVID-19 palliative warehouses were also looted in Lagos and Osun states by residence as well.
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