The Bayelsa State Emergency Management Agency (BYSEMA) has issued a warning that the food items looted from a warehouse in Yenagoa, the state capital, are not suitable for human consumption.
The warehouse, situated in the Kpansia suburb of Yenagoa, originally stored relief materials for victims of the 2022 floods. However, it was invaded and looted by residents on Sunday night.
Walamam Igrubia, the Director General of BYSEMA, cautioned those who participated in the looting against consuming the items due to safety concerns. He emphasized that these items were "unfit for human consumption" and clarified that they were not provided by the agency or the state government as fresh food palliatives.
Igrubia explained that, in preparation for potential flooding this year, he personally oversaw the clearing of remnants of food items, including rice and garri, which were deemed unfit for consumption. These items were removed from the warehouse and placed outside for disposal the next day. He further assured the public of BYSEMA's readiness to distribute legitimate palliatives provided by the Federal Government to ease the impact of fuel subsidy removal and impending flooding.
However, a concerned resident named Alagoa Morris criticized BYSEMA for allowing the stored items to spoil without distributing them to the victims of the 2022 flood that devastated the state. Morris stressed that while hunger is undeniable in Nigeria, actions should be lawful and in accordance with regulations. The incident serves as a lesson for all stakeholders, he stated.