The Nigerian military has assured the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) of the deployment of troops to protect warehouses nationwide.
Amidst the country’s economic struggles and the rising cost of living, there have been several incidents of attacks and looting targeting warehouses and food trucks in many parts of the country.
Some able-bodied youths stole food items from trucks stuck in traffic along Kaduna Road in the Suleja area of Niger State.
Also, the Agricultural and Rural Development Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration confirmed the looting of its Dei-Dei warehouse by FCT residents, following the prevailing economic hardships in the country.
Similarly, members of the Nigerian Army foiled an attempt to rob a private warehouse at the Idu industrial layout in the FCT.
No fewer than five people were arrested with their loot in that operation.
Additionally, NEMA’s Coordinator in the South-West Zone, Ibrahim Farinloye, noted on Thursday that the agency had put in place measures to forestall any attack on government warehouses by miscreants, who may want to hide under the cover of the current challenge in the country, to break into facilities where food items are stored.
Asked if the army would be part of the arrangement to secure the agency’s warehouses, the Director, Defence, Media Operation, Maj. Gen. Buba Edward, noted on Friday that NEMA warehouses are critical assets and the military would ensure they are adequately protected.
He said, “Statutorily, NEMA deals with the military as part of the disaster response. The military, in turn, deploys the closest military unit, the DRU.
As a result, the army always complies with any request from NEMA for protection of their warehouses or assistance in the event of a disaster. NEMA warehouses are part of national critical assets, and it’s part of the military mandate to protect critical assets.”
