Fintiri imposes curfew in Adamawa as hoodlums loot COVID-19 warehouses

Governor Ahmadu Fintiri has imposed a curfew in Adamawa State following the looting of warehouses by hoodlums.

Some hoodlums had earlier on Sunday morning broken into a federal warehouse in Kwarnawaya, a community in Yola South Local Government Area, and then a state central store in Bakin Kogi, a community in the heart of Jimeta, Yola North LGA.

The youths in both instances made away with all the content of the warehouses.

Responding to the incidents, Governor Fintiri commended the people of the state for having restrained from violence since the End SARS violence started across the country, but said the government had now been forced to act to check the new trend.

“Fellow citizens, it has become necessary to address you this afternoon following the activities of some misguided elements who have broken into warehouses owned by the State Government and carted away COVID-19 palliatives,”the governor said in his statewide broadcast.

He added, “While this Government respects the rights of the citizens to seek redress, it is not blind to the fact that there is a civilized and responsible way of channelling genuine grievances.”

The governor who mentioned four instances when his government distributed palliative items to the people since the COVID-19 pandemic started, announced that the government was to again start the process of distributing available items on Monday, October 26.

On the decision to impose curfew beginning 3pm on Sunday, the governor said, “Fellow citizens we cannot allow hoodlums and misguided elements operate unchallenged when we are already battling with the challenges of Insurgency, Kidnapping, Cattle Rustling, Banditry and Farmer/Herder clashes.

“Furthermore, reports of people dying in the stampede have been received and we cannot afford to allow anyone to lose his or her life.

“We must also avoid a scenario where the security agents will be blamed if any person loses his/her life while being prevented from looting and destroying Government property.

“In view of the above, I have declared and imposed an indefinite dawn to dusk curfew throughout the State beginning from 3 o’clock Sunday the 25th of October 2020.”