Hoodlums on Thursday attacked a warehouse where COVID-19 palliatives are kept at Mazamaza community in Amuwo Odofin Local Government, Lagos State.
After the hoodlums gained entrance into the warehouse, they looted some COVID-19 palliatives, a resident in the area said.
The warehouse is located on Benster Crescent, popularly called Monkey Village.
The looting started as early as 7:30 am, an eyewitness confirmed.
It was gathered that the hoodlums also set a bonfire at a junction not far from the warehouse.
It was learnt that the hoodlums later asked residents in the area to move into the warehouse and pick some palliatives.
One of the residents, Sherif Olaiya, said, “We heard sounds of gunshots. The hoodlums have attacked a place where COVID-19 palliatives are stored. They are asking residents to come and be picking the palliatives.”
When asked how he knew that the items are COVID-19 palliatives, he said, “They are branded.”
In a statement, Jubril Gawat, a social media aide to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, explained that the warehouse is not state-owned.
The statement read, “Lagos State Government has today condemned the vandalization of the warehouse at Mazamaza housing the food palliative packages donated to the State government by the Private Sector Coalition against COVID-19 group.
“The State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu had on September 22nd 2020 formally taken receipt of the food palliatives from the CACOVID team meant for distribution to the indigent.
“The Government notes that the warehouse in question is not State-owned and its usage was made available to the CaCOVID group. The State Government had been allowed to commence rebagging of food items allotted to it from the quantities meant for South-West States.
“The rebagging was being done to account for each beneficiary receipt, as was required and monitored by the CACOVID team.
“The distribution was on-going but had to be halted due to protests, before the invasion of the warehouse today.
“For effective distribution of the food palliatives, groups such as Transport Unions, Ethnic Groups, Religious Associations, Artisans and Tradesmen Association, Marketmen and Women Association, People Living with Disabilities, Orphanages and Old Peoples’ Homes among others were being used as distribution channels to their members.
“The State Government however regrets the invasion of the warehouse and appreciates the support offered by the CACOVID group to the citizenry of Lagos.”
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