24 October 2020
Friday 23rd October witnessed a free for all in Calabar the Cross River state capital city as hoodlums, who arguably infiltrated the #EndSARS protest, set fire and broke into premises of private businesses as well as government buildings NEGROIDHAVEN can say authoritatively.
The mobs broke into and set fire to financial institutions, creamery, government secretariat/offices, sport facilities and supermarkets especially First Bank, and Ekondo Microfinance Bank located at 8 Mile, Cold Stone Creamery Nigeria, Value Mart and Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC office at Marian Road, U. J. Esuene Sports Stadium at Muritala Mohammed Highway, Calabar South Council Secretariat at Anantigha street, while making attempt to break into Spar Mall at Mary Slessor Road.
The string of incidents is reported to have commenced in the evening around 4PM with the breaking into Calabar Covid-19 Palliative Warehouses located at Bishop Moinagh Avenue at State Housing, Ministry of Works at Ekorinim and Chronicles building at Barracks Road by residents and indigens of the state capital city who carted away with bags of rice, cartons of noodles, bags of salt, gallons of vegetable oil and bags of local staple called cassava flakes.
As it began to grow dusk into the night, reports started filling in of hooligans breaking into and setting fire to First Bank located at 8 Mile, Cold Stone Creamery Nigeria, Value Mart and Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC office at Marian Road at Marian Road. Reports have it that they burgled U. J. Esuene Sports Stadium at Muritala Mohammed Highway by IBB Way, Calabar South Council Secretariat, while making attempt to break into Spar Mall at Mary Slessor by Barracks Road.
Government wades in…
The State governor, Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade through his Chief Press Secretary Christian Ita issue a press release announcing the commencement of a 24hr curfew beginning from 6PM at about 5PM stating that: ‘Following the hijacking of the peaceful protest against police brutality in the state by hoodlums, the state governor, Sir Ben Ayade has imposed a 24hr curfew in the state starting from 6pm on Friday, October 23, 2020.’
Two hours later, CPS would issue another release where the governor asked security agents to refrain from shooting at the crowd. It reads in part ‘The state governor, His Excellency Sir Ben Ayade has directed security agents mobilized to different locations in Calabar not to shoot at crowds that broke into some warehouses to take foodstuff meant for distribution as palliatives… The governor is sad at the ugly turn of events following the hijacking of the peaceful protest against police brutality in the state. While urging security agents to apply the utmost restrain in trying to enforce peace, they should do so without shooting at any one.’
Reacting to the development, the state Commissioner for Humanity & Social Welfare, Mrs Blessing Egbara, explained through a publication that the distribution of palliatives has been ongoing but in sequences. Egbara said that ‘The attention of the Cross River State Government has been drawn to mis-representations being given to the effect that some warehouses that were broken into by some hoodlums contained foodstuff meant for distribution as palliatives.
‘Contrary to the mis-information being peddled, Cross River State has been distributing foodstuff palliatives to the most vulnerable ones in the state in sequence. The distribution began with release of the palliatives to those who needed it most through churches, followed by release through traditional rulers. This was followed by distribution of the palliatives in the northern senatorial district. It was followed by distribution in the Central Senatorial District. The foodstuff found at the warehouses broken into in Calabar were received about a week ago from Cacovid for distribution in the Southern Senatorial District…. Upon taking delivery of the foodstuff, the state was however, directed not to distribute the palliatives pending a press conference that was to be addressed by a Cacovid team from Lagos.’
Nigerians react…
Nigerians are polarised in their opinions over the turn of events in Calabar. Some have frowned at the looting and arson while others have commended it. Some are evasive while others have linked the burglary with the #EndSARS protest which was adjudged to be very peaceful. Mmakamba Eyoma reacted through her social media account: ‘So, those who broke into and set fire to first bank at 8 miles, broke into Coldstone and valuemart, broke into the stadium, broke into Calabar South headquarters and tried to break into spar mall, what’s your reason? Why exactly did you do that? Are those places aside Calabar south council owned by the government? Why? As if I am a prophet, I asked that we go back to the drawing board and actively pursue peace only for this to happen? Where is the Calabar of my childhood?… Why couldn’t we show the world that we’re different? Why highjack something that was totally peaceful?
On his part, Simon Utsu observed that ‘I think we need to swallow our pride and apologise in part to this beautiful lady. Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farooq. Nigeria’s Minister for Humanitarian Affairs. When she was telling us that several billions of Naira had been spent on Covid-19 relief items to states, we called her a big liar and a thief. Events of the past 36hrs have vindicated her. Southern Nigeria Governors and leaders are about the most wicked and self centred humans walking on this planet. From my rough estimate, the food items in each state’s warehouse is in excess of 5 billion Naira at the least. And all(or most of) that was left to rot. Or maybe the plan was to share it among themselves in December. The thieving politicians would have then gone ahead and lined some of you and your Mothers up in front of cameras and presented a few cartons of indomie and some miserable measures of rice in the name of one useless empowerment…My dear Cross Riverians, believe you me, most of your leaders are very heartless’.
A popular lawyer noted briefly ‘“Cross River State distributes palliatives in sequence…” is hunger beating the people in sequence? Or it is your wickedness, greed and incompetence that’s in sequence?’.
Foodpreneur Firewoodgirl said: ‘The monsters you indoctrinated and released into Calabar yesterday didn’t just loot palliatives; they went into town destroyed individual businesses. Businesses that took people years to build? Businesses that thrived despite heavy taxes when others left? I weep for them because they are not just destroying these businesses but destroying our own town…’
Shootings, shootings in Calabar…
Our correspondent has garnered that Friday night breaking into Saturday was characterised by loud sounds of repeated gun shuts around neighborhoods in Nyanghasang, 8 Mile, Adiabo etc.
For instance, at Nyanghasang a community in Calabar Municipality, it is reported that thieves were seen to be shooting at those who helped themselves to the contents of the Calabar Covid-19 Relief Warehouses and robbing them off food items and personal effects like mobile devices etc.
Adiabo Residence of Obong of Calabar attacked…
Also, It is reported that the hooligans attempted to break into the house of the Obong of Calabar but, were resisted by security operatives. Both hoodlums and security personnel engaged in a shootouts allegedly.
Casualties…
Six persons have been confirmed dead from yesterday’s incident. It is noted that the death occurred at the warehouses where some persons slumped dead.
Expert take…
According to a management expert, Ikakke Bassey, the #EndSARS offline protest has advanced beyond a call to end police brutality in all ramifications into an agitation against the rich by the poor.
