There was total confusion on Sunday, August 31, in Suleja, Niger State, when residents stormed a field and looted relief materials that were meant for public distribution.
The items had been arranged earlier in the day for a scheduled exercise, but before officials could begin, the restless crowd rushed to grab the supplies. In the struggle, people pushed and trampled on one another as they scrambled for the goods.
A voice over the microphone kept calling on security to lock the gates and stop anyone from leaving with the looted materials, but the appeal did little to restore calm. Armed personnel on ground tried to control the chaos, yet they were unable to hold back the desperate residents.
Some men carrying sticks attempted to guard the relief packages by flogging those who tried to snatch them. Still, the people were determined, grabbing what they could and running off.
When the gates were eventually locked on the instruction of the event’s MC, many residents climbed over the fence with their loot, showing how uncontrollable the situation had become.
