Abuja NYSC camp attacked, looted

 

The orientation camp of the National Youth Service Corps in Kubwa, a satellite town of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, was invaded by looters on Tuesday.

They damaged property at the camp and made away with items such as mattresses, motorcycles, foodstuffs, and home and office equipment, among others.

The incident, which began around 9.20am, threw the neighbourhood into pandemonium as soldiers shot in the air to disperse the looters, who initially defied the troops’ warning.

It was gathered that the looters aimed at the food store of the NYSC camp, which was said to have been recently restocked with bags of rice and other food items ahead of its imminent reopening.

The looters, who were armed with knives, cudgels and other weapons, blocked the road in front of the camp’s gate.

They prevented motorists and other road users from passing before destroying the property along the way as they made their way into the camp in large number.

One of our correspondents, who witnessed the invasion of the camp, reported seeing looters at different locations along the length of the road leading into the camp scaling the fence onto the premises.

They invaders were later seen coming out of the camp with motorcycles, mattresses, plastic chairs, office equipment, drums painted in the NYSC colours, fans, flat screen televisions and kitchen utensils, among others.

Some of the residents of the neighbourhood, including youths and women, also poured out into the streets to join in the looting.

Those who did not participate in the pilfering were seen hailing the looters as they spirited away with the NYSC property.

Some offered to help to keep the stolen items, so that the looters could make a quick return to the camp for another round of looting.

A resident, who was disappointed by the looting of non-food items said, “They should have taken just the food items.”

Some of the looters went away with the items in cars, buses, tricycles and motorcycles.

Around 10.20am, soldiers began shooting as they chased the looters into the adjoining streets.

The soldiers ordered those going about their routine business to enter their homes.

A low-flying military helicopter hovered above the area for about 45 minutes, while police and military vehicles patrolled the area until calmness was restored around 2.30pm.

Some residents said two persons were shot in the ensuing confusion.

Later, the soldiers led some suspected workers at the camp to ransack a nearby motor park and other locations in the neighbourhood.

They also broke into some makeshift stores, which they suspected that some of the looted items were kept.

Some items were recovered in the course of the search.

At a mechanic workshop, one of the workers was heard telling a soldier, “They removed air-conditioners from the camp; are those palliatives too?”

While at a nearby location of young iron scavengers, where some looted items were recovered, an NYSC worker pointed to an iron window frame, which he said was removed from the residence of the camp director.

Some items, including fans, drums, chairs, mattresses and plastic chairs were recovered during the search.