Angry protesters in Calabar, Cross River state this evening stormed some government warehouses in the city, carting away large quantities of Indomie noodles, bags of rice, vegetable oil and other consumable items believed to have been sent to the state by the Federal Government as part of COVID-19 palliatives meant for distribution to residents of the state.
The warehouses located at Bishop Monaygh Avenue, State Housing Estate, Ministry of Works premises, Ekorinim, SEMA, Nigerian Chronicle premises, Barracks Road and are thought to have been closely guarded locations where the palliatives appear to have been hidden before the protesters were tipped off. It is believed that security agents tipped off some protesters who accordingly spread the information that drew thousands of people in the city to the warehouses, forcefully gaining entrance and emptying them.
Christian Ita, Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to Governor Ayade, however maintained in a statement released this evening that, “The said foodstuff were taken delivery of about two weeks ago with distribution ongoing, especially in the rural areas”, a submission that is largely believed to be untrue.
Mean while, the state government has directed security agents mobilized to different locations in Calabar not to shoot at crowds that broke into the warehouses to take foodstuff just like it has imposed a curfew on the restive city.