Armed hoodlums over power Security agents, loot ADP warehouse in Kogi

Some suspected hoodlums on Sunday night attacked the Agricultural Development Project warehouse in Lokoja and car away fertilisers and goods.

Hoodlums, according to eyewitness were armed and over power security on the premises at about 7 pm, then forced the warehouse open before carting away several bags of fertilizers and valuable items.

The intervention of armed security operatives later brought the situation under control, while some of the suspected hoodlums were arrested by the Kogi state police command.

Confirming the arrest, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. William Ayo told journalists on Monday said, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ayuba Ede has visited the scene, assuring that investigation will commence immediately.

Reacting to the development, Kogi State Governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello has condemned the looting, while commending the Police for arrest made so far.

In a statement issued on Monday by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon. Kingsley Fanwo, the governor described the attack on economy of the State.

He said: “Late last night, some armed robbers went to burgle the Fertilizer Warehouse of the Kogi State ADP at Felele, Lokoja.

“They stole bags of fertilizers and agrochemicals, dangling dangerous weapons to scare the security operatives on duty at the ADP. This is considered an attack on the economy of the State as Government has positioned agriculture to drive the state out of the global economic gloom.

“However, the ever gallant security operatives in the State swiftly moved to the scene of the crime to ensure prompt arrest of the robbers and recover all the stolen fertilizers and agrochemicals belonging to the Kogi farmer. The fertilizers in the Warehouse were reserved for dry season farming across the Confluence State.

“Those arrested are already making confessional statements at the Police station while others who fled the scene, leaving their tricycles already loaded with fertilizers, are being trailed by security agencies.

“As Government promised yesterday, we will not allow any unleashing of anomie on the people of Kogi State. If robbery is celebrated and condoned in other states, Kogi will stand out by ensuring law and order as well as constitutionalism.

“Those apprehended to have stolen fertilizers belonging to Kogi farmers will be prosecuted and made to face the full wrath of the law.

“We urge the people of the State to go about their normal businesses as events of the past 24 hours have been put under firm and decisive control.

“The State Government also wishes to restate its gratitude to the good people of the State who turned out for the last batch of distribution of palliatives at the state warehouse yesterday.

“We also commend our anchormen in all the 21 Local Government Areas who ensured the palliatives were distributed to the people at the grassroots, regardless of their political leanings and religion.

“President Muhammadu Buhari has really stood up to the demands of leadership at this trying period of our nation’s history.

“The administration of Governor Yahaya Bello, as part of its social security measure, has been providing palliatives for indigent homes across the State since 2016; a situation that has given the state a well structured channel of distributing succour to homes.

“The New Direction Administration shall continue to drive home, sound economic policies that will take more homes above the poverty line. This is the social contract between the people of Kogi and their Governor.

“Let us also call on members of the Third Estate of the Realm to desist from reckless, false, malicious and indefensible reporting. It is our hope and desire to continue to work with the media to develop our state and give voice to our people.