The Agricultural and Rural Development Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration has confirmed reports of looting at its warehouse in Dei-Dei, attributing the incident to economic challenges faced by FCT residents.
Speaking to journalists, spokesperson for the ARD Secretariat, Zakari Aliyu, stated that the secretary had personally witnessed the aftermath of the looting, noting extensive damage to the property and the removal of all items from the warehouse.
Aliyu indicated that further information would be provided by FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, and FCT Mandate Secretary, Agric Secretariat, Lawan Geidam, during their scheduled visit to the facility on Monday.
“We visited the scene of the incident this morning. We visited with the Secretary and some other officials of the Secretariat. So, by tomorrow, the Secretary I think with the Minister of State will pay another visit to that place. I am sure that a lot of information that will be useful to you, you will get it. If you can just be patient, tomorrow you will get all the information you need. If you go there, there is nothing there. If you know that place, do you know that they removed the roof, and the windows inclusive, apart from the food items?” Aliyu elaborated.
Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has officially refuted recent media reports alleging looting at its warehouse in Abuja, clarifying that the implicated facility is not under its jurisdiction.
Through a statement released by NEMA’s Press Unit, the agency emphasized the accuracy of its inventory and the security of its assets, asserting that the warehouse subject to looting does not belong to NEMA.
The statement aimed to address misinformation circulating across media platforms and to reassure the public of the agency’s commitment to operational integrity and the safety of emergency supplies.
“The attention of the National Emergency Management Agency has been drawn to media reports on Sunday alleging that the Agency’s warehouse was looted by some hoodlums in Abuja. This is to clarify that the looted warehouse does not belong to NEMA. However, the Agency sympathizes with the owners of the looted facility. To forestall any security breach at NEMA facilities, the Director General Mustapha Habib Ahmed has directed Zonal Directors and Heads of Operations to strengthen security in and around the Agency’s offices and warehouses nationwide,” the statement concluded.
