Protests: Property worth N477m destroyed, man-hours lost in Borno, Yobe

About N477 million worth of property and 32 man-hours were lost in two days during the national protests embarked on by youths in the major cities and towns of Borno and Yobe states.

The property, including buses, police patrol, and utility vehicles, was torched by the youths in the Maiduguri metropolis, Potiskum, Nguru and Gashua, a border community with the Niger Republic.

According to authorities at Maiduguri Monday Market (MMM), 32 man-hours were also lost in the two-day protests when two markets were closed in Maiduguri and Damaturu, the Yobe State capital.

In the Maiduguri metropolis and Jere Local Council, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse was vandalised by the protesters who looted various food items and other humanitarian facilities valued at N7.5 million.

In addition to the warehouse, the youths proceeded along Baga Road to vandalise the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) facility, which contained skills acquisition tools estimated at N15 million.

The Mechanical Village on Damboa Road, including the Borno State Mechanical Workshop along Baga Road, was also vandalised. The youths looted skills acquisition equipment valued at N15 million.

Mustapha Fannami, a community leader in the affected areas, told The Guardian that under-aged children smashed the glasses of vehicles on the roads.

According to him, the affected motorists could bear the total costs of fixing the glasses at about N8.5 million.

Other public property lost in the protest included three police patrol and utility vehicles estimated at N31 million.

In Yobe State, the youths torched seven buses belonging to the Potiskum Local Council.

An eyewitness, Malam Isa Yakubu (not real name), said the burnt buses had generated revenue for the council. He noted that it would be difficult to replace the buses, which the council procured at N15 million each.

Other property destroyed in Potiskum, currently under a daily curfew from dusk to dawn, included streetlights and traffic warden sheds along Kano Road.

In Nguru, 230km west of Damaturu, the protesters attacked and vandalised a pharmaceutical store belonging to Alhikma and the local council storage facility.

The youths also vandalised and looted materials and other facilities belonging to the council.

The rampaging youths did not spare market wares in Nguru, as they looted goods estimated at N35 million.

Other property destroyed in Nguru include the local council information van and the glasses of the former council chairman’s car, Modu Kachalla.

Senator Ahmad Lawan’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) facility complex was vandalised. Billboards at roundabouts and on the streets of Nguru were also destroyed.

Isa noted that replacing all the destroyed property in Nguru township may cost the local council and individuals over N350 million.

The spokesperson for the Yobe State Police Command, ASP Dungus Abdulkarim, said 51 suspects were arrested, 35 of whom are in the Potiskum correctional facility.

He added that underaged children under detention could be released under bail.