Armed hoodlums invades ADP warehouse for palliatives in Kogi —Police arrest suspects

Some suspected armed hoodlums on Sunday night burgled Kogi State Agricultural Development Project fertilizer warehouse and carted away several goods.
The hoodlums invaded the premises of the ADP at about 7 pm on Sunday with dangerous weapons as they over power the security man on duty.
According to an eyewitnessed account, after over powering the security men, they headed for the wearhouse then forced it open and carted away several bags of fertilizers and valuable things.
However it took the intervention of the armed security men to control the situation and arrested some suspected hoodlums.
However, the Kogi state police command has arrested some suspected hoodlums.
The police public relation officer, Mr. William Aya who confirmed the incident to our reporter on Monday said the Commissioner of Police Mr. Ayuba Ede visited the scene on Sunday night and also on Monday morning.
He noted that some suspects were arrested by the command and they have commenced investigation stressing that security men have been deployed to the scene to avoid further looting.
Meanwhile, the Kogi State governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has condemned the the incident that took place in Sunday night.
The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon. Kingsley Fanwo in a press statement issued on Monday said those behind the attacked have been arrested by security agents in the state.
The statement read this, “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.
“The Governor Yahaya Bello Administration considers security as the number one responsibility of Government; hence, its continued commitment to ensure Kogi people are safe from the activities of miscreants, hoodlums, robbers and kidnappers.
“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.