The Presidency has described looting and destructions that occurred in Kano during hunger protest, on Thursday, as brigandage, arson and daylight robbery.
Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Bola Tinubu, Temitope Ajayi, said shops, supermarkets, business premises and massive rice mill were looted during the ‘EndBadGovernanceinNigeria‘ protest.
Temitiope Ajayi, however, agreed that hoodlums were responsible for the looting and destruction of property in the state, including the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) Industrial Park.
Mr Ajayi said this on Friday while responding to Ebun Adegboruwa (SAN) who said the first day of the hunger protest was peaceful but recorded small skirmishes caused by hoodlums.
“Mr. Ebun Olu-Adegboruwa described what happened yesterday in Kano, Jigawa, Borno, Yobe and other places as skirmishes caused by poor handling of ‘peaceful protest’ by the police. Mr. Adegboruwa is certainly wrong. What happened in Kano was brigandage, arson and daylight robbery.
“The hoodlums that came out yesterday in Kano and other places didn’t come out for any protest. They simply came out to loot shops, supermarkets, business premises under the cover of protest. We can imagine the number of businesses in Kano that will never recover again.
“My heart sank seeing the massive rice processing mill on Zaria road in Kano that was looted and set ablaze by these hoodlums. That is a processing mill that employs more than a 1000 people. These people will either be temporarily or permanently out of job depending on if the business owner is able to restart the factory,” SSA Media and Publicity to President Tinubu said.
He further stated that Shoprite Mall at Lugbe would have been looted but for the quick intervention of personnel of Nigeria Army and Nigeria Police.
“It was quick police and military intervention that saved Shoprite at Lugbe in Abuja yesterday night. The police and soldiers kept vigil at the facility to protect it from being looted.
“People like Mr. Adegboruwa always want to take a populist stand but I don’t think constant populist detour on issues should make anyone lose sense of reasoning,” Ajayi wrote on his X handle.
