TheCable

The Plateau state government says it was preparing to start distribution of COVID-19 palliatives when the warehouses containing the items were looted. 

There was a stampede on Saturday as hundreds of residents broke into warehouses in Buruku and Jos, the state capital.

The warehouses have been used to store COVID-19 palliatives, which are mostly food items.

Speaking on why the items had not been distributed to residents, Daniel Manjang, Plateau commissioner for information, said the government couldn’t distribute because of the nationwide #EndSARS protests. 

“Following the vandalisation and looting of palliatives from some warehouses in Jos and Bukuru on 24th October, 2020, it has become expedient for the Plateau state government to condemn the action and further make some clarifications about the items to clear the erroneous impression that they were being hoarded,” he said.  

“The items at the warehouses belong to the federal ministry of humanitarian affairs, social development and disaster management earmarked for distribution to beneficiaries in Plateau state. 

“The public may recall that the minister of humanitarian affairs, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farooq, was in Jos together with the minister of women affairs, Dame Paullen Tallen, on the 16th of October, 2020 to deliver the items and had indeed brought in the personnel of the ministry to carry out the distribution in conjunction with state officials.

“However, as they were preparing to begin the process, the EndSARS protests began which put the process on hold.

“Unfortunately while the team from the federal ministry of humanitarian affairs, social development and disaster management was waiting for the coast to clear to commence the distribution, the stores were breached and the items carted away.”

He explained that all the palliatives purchased by the state and those donated by private individuals were already distributed equitably by the committee headed by Sonni Tyoden, deputy governor of the state. 

Meanwhile, the state has declared a 24-hour curfew, beginning at 4pm on Saturday and which will last “till further notice”.