THE bedlam which swept through the length and breadth of the country especially the massive looting and brazen destruction of private and public properties in the wake of the ENDSARS protests have laid bare the weaknesses of the nation’s security architecture.
AS at last count, 205 security assets, 248 stores, 71 warehouses estimated at trillions of naira were either brazenly touched or looted in the most grotesque expression of brigandage by hoodlums who latched on the hunger and anger in the land to perpetrate anarchy.
REGRETTABLY, public properties often take the brunt anytime there is public disorder and mob violence as witnessed during the unfortunate incident when many policemen and innocent Nigerians lost their lives in the latest fury. Our thoughts are with them and their relations for losing their loved ones in the crisis.
NOW that the smoke has evaporated and the storm over, is the mayhem conflate with the carnage, violence and destruction of private property and national heritage to police infractions? No doubt, men of the disbanded SARS by their various illegalities have crossed the bar of decency in their daily dealings with members of the public. It is an open secret that the trust quotient between the public and the police is lacking due to the excesses of the rank and file of the police. The Nigeria Police Force contrary to its mantra is not people friendly while their extortion of the people does not allow them to earn public confidence and trust.
THE looting and wanton destruction which followed the ENDSAR protest is an open expression of the economic anger and frustrations of the people caused by the COVID-19 lockdown whose adversity is felt by all and sundry.
NOW that the debris of the destruction is being cleared with grave financial implications, it is obvious to the perpetrators and their sponsors that the destruction is an ill wind that blows no one any good.
IN Lagos state alone, billions of naira was lost in the criminal opportunism, arson and theft which the protest offered hoodlums who set public properties including 100 BRT buses estimated over N3.5 billion ablaze.
SO daring were the vandals that they violated the sanctity of the Igan Iduganran palace and made away with the staff of office of the Oba of Lagos.
IN Ondo State, both the secretariats of the ruling APC and that of the opposition PDP were vandalized while two policemen on duty at Ore and Ondo were killed and burnt alive.
IN Kogi State, the commissioner for Health, Dr Saka Audu overwhelmed by the carnage wreaked on the health warehouse in Lokoja broke down in tears and wept uncontrollably.
THOSE who had visited Lagos State, the epicenter of the violence after the tragedy have described the looting and destruction in the state as a great setback for the country’s honey pot and act of evil as it will take decades before the state could recover from the pillage.
THE HOPE roundly condemns the wanton criminal mischief unleashed on private and public property across the country. The hoodlums have not portrayed any sense of civility and humanity.
THE commonest fundamental human right of the citizen is the right to life and property and when others violate them by stealing, killing and destroying other people’s property without provocation, they are promoting lawlessness and criminal mischief.
WE boldly endorse the right of citizens to protest in full expression with any popular or unpopular policy and to assert demands where necessary but equally condemn a situation when mob violence has become a weapon of covetousness, destruction and murder.
THE recent looting and vandalism of public property is unacceptable and must be denounced by well meaning Nigerians as ungodly, vicious and a big embarrassment to the country.
THE involvement of old, young, women and men in the scavenging as shown in the footages and social media revealed a revolt against the current economic situation in the country which government at all levels must address urgently and decisively.
Nigerians are tired of promises and something concrete must be done to address the crisis of youth unemployment and poverty, two issues fueling unrest in the country.
THE HOPE sympathises with the Inspector General of Police who have lost men and 100 AK 47 riffles to criminals masquerading as protesters in Lagos state alone. He must intensify efforts to recover the stolen weapons and to revive the spirit of his men dampened by the ENDSARS protests. We identify with measures taken to probe the incident and enjoined the Federal Government to compensate state governments and individuals whose properties were looted in the rage. Government must also quickly bridge the gap between it and the governed to avert a reoccurrence of the unfortunate national malady.