Nigeria's security forces are battling on several fronts, including with jihadists in the north and separatist agitation in the southeast
AFP

Thousands of Nigerian youth attacked the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) warehouses in Kaduna and Adamawa states. The looters were outraged over skyrocketing food and fuel prices in Nigeria after President Bola Tinubu took over office in May and removed fuel subsidy.

During the rampage, at least four people were shot dead by the security operatives and 47 were arrested.

Around 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, a group of young people attacked the government warehouse at PZ Roundabout near Yola International Airport and took away grains alongside other items.

The grains and other items were loaded on over 200 tricycles. Other armed hoodlums took advantage of the rampage and looted the personal belongings of nearby residents, as per SaharaReporters.

"Here in this car is my own share of the loot, but it actually came at a cost, because four of us (looters) were shot dead. But I blame the youths because they attempted to engage the security guys; possibly to snatch rifles," a looter told the outlet.

A military official on the site shared that they had to open fire on the hoodlums because they were "advancing to attack" the officials. "Yes, I think about three or four may have been neutralized in the process," he added.

SP Suleiman Nguroje, who serves as the spokesperson for Adamawa State Police, said that he won't be able to confirm any casualty at this moment because he is awaiting an assessment report. However, he confirmed that 47 people have been arrested in connection to the looting crime.

Following the looting incident, the executive governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri declared a round-the-clock curfew from Sunday onwards. Aside from government warehouses, the looting also took place in several food stores.

Umaru Fintiri's spokesman explained that the curfew was imposed "due to escalating violence by hoodlums attacking people and businesses," DW reported.

Aside from Adamawa warehouses, the government's Kaduna warehouses were also attacked on the same day. Abbani Imam, who serves as the zonal coordinator of the NEMA Office, shared that the military and other agencies like the Department of State Services (DSS), Police were sent to their warehouses for protection.

"We have contacted the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) where our warehouses are located to be on alert," Imam said, TribuneOnline reported. "We also informed all SSS officers and are closely monitoring the situation."

Videos of looting surfaced on Twitter.

One of the Twitter users shared a video people can be seen breaking into government as well as private stores and taking away food and non-food items.

"Adamawa: A hunger-triggered revolt? Watch how residents and street urchins broke into government and people's stores, do away many food and non-food items. You can call it a revolt and another round of fighting the state over unfriendly policies," the user wrote alongside the video.

In a separate video, security personnel can be seen arresting a man, who was allegedly involved in the looting.

The looting happened after food and fuel prices increased sharply after President Bola Tinubu took over office in May. Last week, the Tinubu-led administration announced that it has mobilized $500 million to transform the food system in Nigeria.

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