The Plateau State Government has
refuted claims that the palliatives which were looted by hoodlums were hoarded
by the government stating that the distribution of the palliatives was delayed
due to the EndSars protest that took place across the country. The warehouses which
is located at the Bukuru metropolis in Jos South Local Government Area, was
broken into by the hoodlums who carted away the items.
According to a statement issued
by the state Commissioner for Information, Dan Manjang, in Jos on Saturday, he
explained that the items were delivered to the state by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs,
Social Development and Disaster Management for distribution to beneficiaries in
Plateau State. “Following the vandalization and looting of palliatives from
some warehouses in Jos and Bukuru on 24th October 2020, it has become expedient
for the Plateau State Government to condemn the action and further make some
clarifications about the items to clear the erroneous impression that they were
being hoarded,” he said.
He stated that the delay in the
distribution of the items was because the team from the Federal Ministry of
Humanitarian Affairs, Social Development and Disaster Management alongside the
state representatives was waiting for the coast. He recalled that the Minister
of Humanitarian Affairs Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouk was in Jos together with the
Minister of Women Affairs Dame Paullen Tallen on the 16th October 2020 to
deliver the items and had indeed brought in the personnel of the Ministry to
carry out the distribution in conjunction with State officials. “However, as
they were preparing to begin the process, the #ENDSARS protests began which put
the process on hold,” he said.
He concluded that it would be wrong
and mischievous for anyone to suggest that the State Government was hoarding
food items meant for indigent citizens. The Rescue Administration of Governor
Simon Lalong will never tolerate that. Meanwhile, he appealed to the youths to
conduct themselves and avoid any action that could cause the breakdown of law
and order.