Kebbi State, including its capital Birnin Kebbi, was the scene of a significant security breach as residents looted both government and private warehouses on Saturday night, intensifying the state’s economic difficulties.
A government storage facility in Bayan Kara was overrun by looters who outmatched the guards and seized vital food supplies.
The looting spree also hit private storage and retail outlets nearby. A grain-laden truck, immobilized and awaiting distribution in Birnin Kebbi, was also raided.
These events in Kebbi State are part of a broader pattern of similar looting activities in Abuja and Suleja, Niger State, driven by economic desperation following the removal of petrol subsidies and currency devaluation.
Muhammadu Gwadangwaji, head of the Bayan Kara Market food vendors association, described the intensity of the crisis, highlighting that even security measures like gunfire and tear gas could not deter the looters.
“The assailants broke in, looting the state’s warehouse and our stores,” said Gwadangwaji. He also reported that the looters set fire to several shops and warehouses during the incident.
